GARDAÍ HAVE CONFIRMED that they are assisting police in Northern Ireland in seeking to find a convicted rapist who has not be seen for over a week, and who has missed a court appointment.

Edward Connors, 19, has not been seen since he failed to show up for a hearing at Belfast Crown Court last Monday, July 16.

Connors had been convicted of twice raping an American tourist in a forest in west Belfast in 2008. He was sentenced to eight years in jail and was released in March having served four years of his sentence.

He was due in court last week after breaching the terms of his probation, but failed to show up and has not been seen since.

Police now believe Connors may be living in the Dublin area, where he had fled four years ago before later handing himself in.

In particular, officers are keen to speak to the driver of a black BMW, with the registration plate SC56 KMX.

Anyone who knows of Connors’ whereabouts can contact the PSNI at 0845 600 8000 from Northern Ireland, or the Garda Confidential line at 1800 666 111 from the Republic.