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A Deliveroo rider with a bag showing an image of Trevor Deely, 22, who was last seen in Dublin in 2000 Peter Houlihan

Missing persons posters to appear on Deliveroo bags to help raise awareness

The riders will be turned into roving missing persons adverts.

TO MARK NATIONAL Missing Persons Day today, Deliveroo has announced that 100 food delivery bags will feature photos of missing people throughout December in a bid to help “bring them home” this Christmas.

The on-demand food delivery service has partnered with the National Missing Persons Helpline to highlight the cases of four missing men by displaying images of the men on Deliveroo riders’ food bags on the streets of Cork and Dublin.

The campaign will feature the faces and details of the following people:

  • Trevor Deely was 22 when last seen on Baggot Street, Dublin, in December, 2000.
  • Gerard Taylor was 55 when last seen in Sandyford, Dublin, in May, 2019.
  • Barry Coughlan was 23 when last seen in Crosshaven, Co Cork, in May, 2004.
  • Mark Smyth was 33 when last seen in Ardee, Co Louth, in May, 2018.

Deliveroo has launched similar campaigns in the UK, Belgium, France and the Netherlands. In the UK, four people were found alive during the initiative, with the help of police and the UK missing persons body.

The Deliveroo app will also introduce a fundraising feature, which will give customers the opportunity to donate to the helpline. The company also donated €10,000.

According to the National Missing Persons Helpline, the average number of reports received each year is 8,700, with over 90 people untraced at year-end.

While the vast majority are found within 24 hours, around 45 people reported missing in Ireland in 2018 remain unaccounted for.  “Christmas is a special time when families come together to celebrate the holiday and renew their special bond,” Dermot Browne of the National Missing Persons helpline said.

“However, amidst all of the glitter, flashing lights and present giving, families of the missing will be seeing that empty chair at the Christmas table and remembering a time when their loved one was sat there.

“We urge everyone in Cork and Dublin to keep an eye out for passing Deliveroo riders. We are always hopeful that this leads to a positive outcome for the families of missing persons.”

If  you have any information about the  National Missing Persons Helpline on 1890 442 552 or at info@missingpersons.ie or call the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666 111.

Our colleagues at Noteworthy.ie have published a proposal to investigate if there are more unsolved cases now than there were in the past, and whether Ireland is doing everything it can to investigate cases of missing people. Click here if you wish to support their work. 

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    Mute Fergal Reid
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    Sep 10th 2013, 11:39 AM

    *Only* one, eh? God, we’ll just have to make do.

    41
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    Mute Paul Flynn
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    Sep 10th 2013, 11:32 AM

    G’wan the Colm!

    32
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    Mute Keelan O'neill
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    Sep 10th 2013, 12:14 PM

    Don’t think Terry Pratchett has ever been nominated for this award, criminal really.

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    Mute Patricia Mc Cann
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    Sep 10th 2013, 11:42 AM

    Colm is a fantastic author , love his books black water lightship among my favourites.

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    Mute Joe Dolan
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    Sep 10th 2013, 7:33 PM

    I just read that book. Bloody depressing. The Secret Scripture was a very good but had a terrible ending.

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    Mute Donnagh Murphy
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    Sep 11th 2013, 12:49 AM

    I’m pretty sure the secret scripture was Sebastian Barry?

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    Mute Gráinne Duggan
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    Sep 11th 2013, 11:02 AM

    You’re right, Donnagh. It was Sebastian Barry.

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    Mute Joe Dolan
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    Sep 11th 2013, 11:08 AM

    My apologies. I had meant to refer to his book Brooklyn which is a very good even though I didn’t agree with its ending.

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    Mute Stephen Doyle
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    Sep 10th 2013, 12:16 PM

    There are way too many literary awards nowadays. All people seem to care about is this prize or that prize and not about the quality of the books themselves. I’ve read some Booker nominees and to be honest they were average at best. Some are even nominated on first time novels.

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    Mute Nicola Kean
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    Sep 10th 2013, 1:25 PM

    I don’t understand your logic Stephen that people shouldn’t be nominated on their debut novels? That’s like telling an athlete that they can’t be in the running for a gold medal their first time competing at the Olympics. What about people who just get it right first time around?

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    Mute ShatterProofMule
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    Sep 10th 2013, 12:34 PM

    I’ve read the spinning heart. This morning I read half of Translantic. If Tobin’s is better it must be an absolute cracker!!!

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    Mute alan
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    Sep 10th 2013, 2:20 PM

    Either that or proof that incessant networking and self promotion work

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    Mute ShatterProofMule
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    Sep 10th 2013, 5:58 PM

    I’ll read them all and make up my own mind..

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    Mute Brendan Ryan
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    Sep 10th 2013, 2:38 PM

    Donald Ryan ‘s A Spinning Heart is also a fine and insightful read.

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    Mute James Anthony Watson
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    Sep 10th 2013, 12:39 PM

    The man is a credit to his profession, a gifted writer, I am unsure of this, but I think I heard this particular book is very short indeed, and as such I was somewhat surprised it was chosen. Which I suppose, merely indicates they level of talent he holds. Bravo Colm.

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    Mute Gráinne Duggan
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    Sep 11th 2013, 11:01 AM

    It is VERY short, I read it in a couple of hours. But it is an interesting book; the idea is that twenty years after the crucifixion, Mary is being pressurised by people writing the scriptures to portray a positive image of her son, while she is very sceptical about some of the things that happened. It’s an interesting angle on the whole story, and makes you think…

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    Mute Brendan Ryan
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    Sep 10th 2013, 2:35 PM

    In the Movie Swimming Pool is the immortal line about literary awards
    “Awards are like haemorrhoids. Eventually every a***hole gets one”!!!

    No disrespect to Colm Tobín. He is a fine writer. Loved Brooklyn, also The Blackwater Lightship

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    Mute Marie Moynihan
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    Sep 10th 2013, 1:38 PM

    Thrilled to see. ” We need new names ” shortlisted. A wonderful novel by a new women writer.

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    Mute John Buckley
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    Sep 10th 2013, 2:01 PM

    “Blazing” or “Burning”? It must be well quenched by now. That was a fair while ago!

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    Mute Mairead Macconmara
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    Sep 10th 2013, 12:14 PM

    The Heather Burning was my favourite

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    Mute Eanna Brophy
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    Sep 10th 2013, 1:04 PM

    The Heather Blazing

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