Gardaí are renewing their appeal for a father-of-one who has been missing for eight years.
Dean Roche, 31, from Hebron Park, Co Kilkenny, has been missing since March 22, 2015 from his home where he lived with his mother.
Since his disappearance, his 59-year-old mother Geraldine has died never knowing what happened to her son.
Read More: Dublin teen blinded in horror attack says 'sometimes I wish I never woke up'
He left home that morning to purchase a car telling his mother he would see her later. It was established he travelled by taxi to Ballyfoyle at approximately 7pm.
Shortly afterwards, the vehicle was found crashed a short distance away. The last confirmed sighting of him was in the driveway of a property in Newpark, Ballyfoyle at 9pm.
Dean is described as 5ft 8in tall of slight build with green eyes and short brown hair. When he was last seen, he was wearing a black zipped tracksuit top, tracksuit bottoms and white trainers.
In a statement gardai said: “Searches have been carried out over a vast area of countryside, which is renowned for its slurry pits. Dean’s family have been reassured these pits have also been extensively searched. Garda were supported by the dog and water units and the army.
“During one of the searches, a red Manchester United woollen hat, believed to be Dean's, was found. Family have also performed their own searches and enquiries in the area, to no avail. One witness reported seeing a silver car travelling at speed and heard voices saying “get in quick”.
"This has never been corroborated and the family continue to pursue this line of enquiry. The investigation is made more complex by rumours and inconsistencies.”
Gardai are urging local farmers to check their farmhouses, outbuildings and land to assist in the search for Dean. Anyone who has seen him or can help with their enquiries is asked to contact Kilkenny Garda Station on 056 777 5000 or the Garda Confidential Telephone Line on 1800 666 111.
Alternatively, members of the public can call the Missing Persons Helpline Ireland on 1890 442 552 or if you wish to remain anonymous, use their Help Bring Them Home confidential line 1800 911 999.
Damien Hipwell, a close friend of Dean’s and of the Roche family is determined to fulfil her last wish to be buried with her son, whom they all accept is dead, as quickly as he can.
“Dean was last seen by a woman in Ballyfoyle when he called at a woman’s house in a distressed and disorientated state on March 22, 2015,” explained Mr Hipwell.
“He ran off before she could help and she told Gardai that she saw a large silver car speed past her gate. She could hear a man shouting to another person demanding them to get into the car and it roared off into the distance.
“This car is so important in finding out what happened to Dean and questions really need to be asked about who was driving the car out there.”
“I made a promise to Geraldine and her family that I would continue working to find him. It’s soul destroying to see her ashes in an urn in her home as she made me and her family agree to not bury her until Dean is found”.
READ NEXT:
Workmen renovating chainsaw killer Paul Wells' Dublin home find guns in wall
Violent trans prisoner Barbie Kardashian will never be allowed mix with inmates
Free ESB cashbacks for Irish home customers being considered after bumper profits
Psychic friend of woman claiming to be Madeleine McCann fumes 'you can't hide'
RTE viewers hail 'level headed' Evan Ferguson after 'brilliant' interview
Get news updates direct to your inbox by signing up to our daily newsletter here
