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Updated 10pm
GUSSIE SHANAHAN WILL always be 20 years old.
He should be 35 this year – but for his parents, Bob and Nancy, he remains perpetually 20.
Always sociable, always bright, always funny. But always 20.
Aengus ‘Gussie’ Shanahan was last seen on 11 February 2000 when he was enjoying a night out with friends.
It was, in many ways, a typical Friday in February.
What happened to Gussie?
Gussie finished work at Dell at 3pm that day, which was pay day. He travelled to Limerick City and withdrew one hundred pounds from a Bank of Ireland ATM in the branch where his father worked.
He met his dad and returned sixty pounds he had borrowed from him the week before. Then he went across the road to Supermacs to catch up with a friend, where they discussed their plans for the evening.
Later, Gussie and two close friends travelled to a pub known at the time as Cooper’s Bar on St Joseph’s Street where they had a few sociable drinks and chatted with other customers.
The two friends were renting a house across the road from the pub. Shortly after 9pm, one of them went home to prepare some food. The other friend followed shortly afterwards. It was arranged that Gussie would stay with them for the night.
Gussie stayed behind and had another drink.
He made two phone calls to some other friends to see if they wanted to meet up with him later in the night. One of the calls went unanswered. The other friend was working on an early shift the following morning and passed on the invitation.
Gussie was captured on CCTV leaving the pub wearing dark blue jeans, a blue top and a red, white and blue Adidas jacket and crossing the road towards his friend’s house.
A witness recalled how she saw Gussie raise his hand as if to knock on the door of the house and then lower it again.
He did not knock on the door. He placed a bottle of beer he was holding onto the ground and walked towards a laneway known locally as School Alley Lane.
He was never seen again.
‘You’re always hoping that it would have been solved before now’
Bob Shanahan – now retired from the bank – told TheJournal.ie he believes his son was murdered.
He’s appealing to those he believes to be responsible for his son’s death to let him and his wife know the truth.
“You’re always hoping before now that it would have been solved. It’s long and drawn out. It still doesn’t get any easier. We’re hoping that people would tell us something.
“It’s horrible.”
The idea that their son is still in an unmarked grave somewhere in the Irish countryside has haunted the Shanahans.
When Gussie’s birthday comes around on 23 January every year his parents like to mark it – but have nowhere to visit.
When you’re waiting for 15 years it can feel like a long time… It’s like waiting for a kettle to boil.
The Shanahans are holding out for an answer.
Now 71, Bob has said that getting some form of information is “his dying wish”.
He could still be alive, who knows?… Stranger things have happened.
What happened?
In the weeks following Gussie’s disappearance, there were sightings – there invariably are when someone goes missing, often they’re inaccurate – but nothing ever turned up.
The case remains open and a group that searches for missing people has taken more than 70 witness statements. The Garda Serious Crime Review Team – which oversees cold case probes – carried out investigations in 2013. Still nothing.
Bob maintains that Gussie had no personal problems and believes he was murdered, but does not know by whom.
That nothingness, that void, can be hard to fill, says Bob.
“You obsess over it, but what can you do?”
Eight years ago, while sitting in traffic, Bob received a phone call. The call came after an RTÉ Crimecall appeal about Gussie.
Bob asked the person on the other end of the line to call back, which they did, giving him a location of a grave.
Bob told TheJournal.ie that the line was bad, but he fears he missed something.
I asked them to call back because I was in traffic and the line was unclear. They said that there’d been a row that had been taken too far.
“But if one person knows something, then two people have to know.”
Earlier this year, the case was featured on Crimecall for a third time. Sergeant Gearoid Thompson, from Roxboro Road Garda Station, said that gardaí still believe that someone out there knows something.
“We feel that somebody somewhere knows what happened that night and what may appear small and trivial to one person could actually end up being of pivotal importance.”
Those little details, scant memories, may give the Shanahans closure and, right now, they’re all they have of their son.
After the 2007 phone call, Bob searched in vain on his own, determined to find something and maybe those responsible.
Now, it’s not about a search, it’s not about justice, it’s about knowing.
“We hope that someone will let us know something.
“We just want peace.”
No ending. No closure.
Last year, TV viewers voiced their ire when the RTÉ drama Amber – which is about a family searching for a missing girl – simply ended. No answer, no closure, just an ending.
Twitter exploded with frustration about the lack of a conventional ending.
It was a feeling Bob knew all too well.
Speaking to Limerick Live 95′s Joe Nash about the drama, he said that the show accurately portrayed the lives of those left behind when a loved one goes missing.
“That is the way it is for people like us. It does become an obsession and takes over your life and it plays on your mind the whole time when you have no closure.
“There has been no happy ending and the nightmare continues for us and countless other families. It is called Amber and that is where a lot of people are on, not knowing, one way or the other.
We have visited psychics all over the country and we would get a lead and go down this road and that road and were told Gussie might be here and he might be there. He might be in the river.
When you hear there was a body found in the river, you are hoping that you would have closure.
Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Roxboro Road Garda Station on 061-214340.
The national Missing Persons Helpline can be reached on 1890 442 552 or through this website.
Originally published 5pm
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Brilliant stuff Christine – looking forward to seeing how this pans out over the coming hours/days :)
This is a brilliant read! Thanks guys!
Thanks Damien, much appreciated.
Policeman has just been shot outside Dublin Castle. This is getting serious. I’m going down to the GPO, my brother works there as a messenger,he might know what’s going on in the city.
Me and my sister are heading to the Jacobs factory. Heard all the shops close by are vacant. We haven’t eaten in a few days . Mam told us to stay away bu she’s looking after our little brother now and I don’t think she will be angry when we bring back food. She looks so sad recently. We really can’t wait to put a smile on her face. I’ll let ye know how we get on
We’re standing on bishop’s street now. The shops aren’t vacant they are all smashed up. There is food we could never imagine eating just sitting there. Come on Mary let’s get it. “That’s stealing christy, mam will kill us for doing that”. Look if we don’t take it someone else will,and look at all that bread and cakes. Jesus we could eat for a week on that stuff. I know it’s missus murphys shop but she’s always been good to us and I think if it’s going to be taken shed like us to have it. You wait here Mary I’ll go and get it yiu just let me know if anyone comes ok? “OK christy but be careful the army are everywhere “. I’ll be grand , just imagine the feed we are going to have tonight
Mary here. Here come christy now . I’ve beverage seen such a smile on his face . Look at all that food he has . He was right we will eat for a week on what’s in his arms. …why has he stopped running? “Chrisy get up your after dropping all the food” “CHRISTY ….CHRISTY … CHRISTY”. he’s not moving. I have to go and see what’s wrong . I’m coming christy … Jesus what’s that pain … I can’t stand . Mam is going to be really angry with us now I think
I really hope the rebels help achieve freedom. Can you imagine if in 100 years time we have streets full of British shops, buy British goods, support British football teams and watch British TV….what a travesty that will be! ;)
And a bunch of Tories running the country.
I was just talking to one of the rebel fighters, I found a pistol on the ground and I’m joining them. I see what they are trying to achieve,I couldn’t before but she made me see it has to stop. I want my grandchildren to live as Irish citizens and in control of their own destiny. Shots are being fired now, this is madness. I’ve never used a gun before but if anyone believes in a free Ireland, join us. This is our chance.
Bugger….I was all set to go
Great idea , this will be interesting . well done TheJournal. !
What a great idea Christine and the Journal. On bus into town and half expecting to hold witness
Thanks Lucy, appreciate that. Be careful out there :)
Christine, a man named Pearse read out a Proclamation outside the GPO over 40 minutes ago. He was declaring Ireland a Republic,whatever that is. People don’t know what’s going on, my brother was evacuated from the GPO but I can’t find him. Now Davy’s pub at Portobello has been stormed.
Be careful if you go out looking for your brother. There are British troops around Sackville Street trying to get close to the GPO and there’s a good bit of gunfire between the two sides right now. You might want to leave it for a while and see if he can make it home by himself.
I’ve just spoken to your brother, He said meet him down by the five lamps.
Me Ma is looking for us both, she s going around the city. I think my brother is sending messages to other rebels in the Jacobs factory…
I hear there were Boos and jeers when he read it out. This seems very unpopular.
I don’t see how these fellas are going to change anything. Not against the might of the British. Sure what advantages will we have by being separate anyway?
Brilliant idea! I’m refreshing every few minutes. My poor battery
Well done Christine and Co. Fascinating reading. I didn’t realise that there was a Finn and a Swede taking pot shots from the GPO as well. Great to read the minute by minute account though. Maybe the rebels will win this time.
Thanks Sean, appreciate it. The story of the Finn and the Swede is so interesting. They were both in the GPO all week. It seems the Swedish man made it home soon after the Rising, but the Finnish man was kept prisoner in Kilmainham afterwards. You can read more about it here, if you’re interested: http://www.thejournal.ie/readme/ordic-rebels-%E2%80%93-the-swede-and-finn-who-fought-in-the-gpo-1916-1230007-Dec2013/
Thanks for that. Really interesting side story. A close relative was in the GPO fighting. I should imagine that they crossed paths at some stage. I’ll never know though. He was imprisoned in Wales though but was released at Christmas along with the others in Frongoch.
Just seeing this article now. Brilliant stuff Christine!
Thanks very much. There’ll be a good bit of stuff about your namesake to come over the week!
But it wasn’t a hundred years ago today it was was only ninety-nine years and eleven months.
We had this discussion a lot about whether to do this on the actual date of the anniversary or on the date when all the State commemorations are taking place. In the end, we decided to go with the latter. We will of course still be doing a series of articles on the actual dates (24th April – 29th April) but this liveblog will be following events from when they began on Easter Monday 1916.
Anyone got any thoughts on this, feel free to throw me a mail. I’m christine@thejournal.ie.
How about a bit of coverage for events outside Dublin?
If you made a decision to follow events the events of Easter Monday, you’d be doing them on April 24th.
This is NOT the centenary.
In 1916, was the day chosen because it was April 24th or because it was Easter Monday? Go for it Journal.
Hi Christine some very valid points there can we discuss this further over dinner perhaps?
Well it took place in Dublin, Why don’t you tell us what’s going on outside of Dublin?
@Jason: You can see all of our coverage here (including some events from around the country yesterday in the liveblog, and there’ll likely be some later today too): http://www.thejournal.ie/1916/news/
@OU812 I understand where you’re coming from on this, and as I said above, it was something we talked about a lot – but since all of the main commemorations are taking place this week, we decided to run the liveblog now to coincide with Easter Monday.
@Pat Mangan: Thanks, much appreciated!
Ciaran, Enniscorthy rose too; it’s why the state are holding a full ceremony here today. Enniscorthy rose and didn’t surrender until may 1st.
@I Pee Freely: Let me get through today’s liveblog first :)
Well Christine…tis a work of fiction. I can clearly see trams working in those pictures.
Out of curiosity, when did the State or indeed its people decide to commemorate Easter Monday’s rising every Easter Sunday?
I call for a joint blog so, For the comrades of Enniscorthy to be included and be remembered for there brave stand with the Men and woman of the Dublin Rising. Their story is seldom told. Go Raibh Maith agat.
Hi Christine, The text in the article is almost unreadable in “night mode”, a lighter colour is needed.Thx.
Yes but most of us will be at work that day.
Jeez,
From reading the comments above you can see one of the reasons why the Rising was doomed to failure.
Lads, its only makey-uppey, it isn’t really happening so suspend disbelief for a while and just go with it ffs.
It was mad to go digging trenches in the Green, they should have taken Dublin Castle instead.
Enniscorthy is the place to be today. Full state service and air corps flyover. Community based events. Weather great, gonna be a great day for an old historic and proud town.
Ah Jason you’re ahead of our time.
Great idea.
Thanks Dermot, much appreciated. Solid surname you’ve got there by the way :)
Mayhem! I’m gonna cycle into town via the backstreets now and help myself to that cutlery in Clery’s that I couldn’t afford yesterday. WOOHOO!
Balls, I slept it out! Next time around I’ll be there, lads.
I’m still looking for me brother. Mr Doyle from Great Britain street says that he saw him running from the British soldiers at Kingsbridge Railway station. I hope he’s alright, he was carrying messages for the Rebels. If they catch him,he’s in for it. I made my way back to the GPO, one of the soldiers left me in through the boarded up window so I can wait for him. The mood is so tense now. The Rebels know the Lancers are going to want revenge for the killings outside.
This is great stuff, proud Irishman following along here from Canada
Great stuff
They took the GPO at 11.45. Think that’s import.
They were freedom or resistance fighters
Have been following this all day… Just fantastic. Looking forward to tomorrow’s updates. Safe home……
Really gives a sense of what went on back then. Thanks for the live blog Christine.
Bumped into The O’Rahilly there across from Rotunda. He’s late to the party as usual. Muttered something about an alarm clock before congratulating me on my haul from Clery’s front window.
The man shot at 12.13 in GPO was John Kealy who was married to my mother’s first cousin. His brother-in-law Charles Donnelly was also in the group in the GPO . Charles Donnellys father and my grandfather were brother’s. John Kealy was the Volunteers first death.
Very enjoyable.
No mention of the “first shot of the rising” which is claimed to have been fired in County Laois late on Easter Sunday night/Monday morning as the local Volunteers participated in the demolition of a section of the railway line at a location near Colt.
This was to prevent British military reinforcements from reaching Dublin via Waterford after the Rising had started.
The awkward moment when people forget we invited the English over in the first place.
No the king of Leinster did
These terrorists must be stopped. #prayfordublin
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