Clare Civil Defense volunteers found and recovered the body of a man reported missing in Co Limerick yesterday.
It was the second time in a week that volunteers based in Clare found the body of a missing person and was the unit's third major search operation so far this year.
Today volunteers were asked to assist gardaí in the search for 62-year-old Joe Noonan, who was reported missing from his home in Kilmallock, Co Limerick on Wednesday.
It is understood Mr Noonan was last seen in Granagh in the early hours of January 7, so the search focused on the areas surrounding the village.
Gardaí and dozens of local people searched farm buildings, outbuildings, local streets and properties in difficult conditions during the day. The area remains under a blanket of snow after the recent cold spell.
The Irish Coast Guard helicopter, Rescue 115, based in Shannon, also carried out an extensive search in the Granagh area yesterday.
Rescue 115 is carrying out a search for the missing man in the Granagh area on Wednesday
Earlier today, members of the Limerick Garda Divisional Search team were deployed to assist with the search, while Clare Civil Defense was also asked by An Garda Síochána to send their unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) unit to assist with the effort.
Volunteers traveled from their base in Ennis to Granagh this morning and launched a drone as part of the operation.
Civil Defense drone operators located a body in a roadside ditch, about five kilometers from where the missing man was last seen. Gardaí were informed of the discovery while members of the Clare Civil Defense team made their way to the site.
Gardaí carried out an investigation at the scene where the man was found, while paramedics were called to officially pronounce the man dead. The body was subsequently recovered from the scene by Civil Defense personnel and Gardaí and taken to University Hospital Limerick where a post-mortem examination will be carried out.
A Garda spokesman said: “Following the discovery of a man’s body, the missing person application has been withdrawn for Joe Noonan (62), who was reported missing from his home in Kilmallock, Co. Limerick on Wednesday, January 8, 2025.
No further media action is required and no further information is available at this time.”
Gardaí thanked the public and media for their support.
Rescue 115 and gardaí searched the Granagh area in West Limerick yesterday
Earlier this week, members of Clare Civil Defense found the body of an elderly man in the Corofin area after his family also reported him missing.
Last week Civil Defense volunteers from Clare traveled to Cork to help search for a missing woman. Members of the search team from Clare found her safe and well.
Clare Civil Defense has also been supporting the HSE in recent days with the transport of staff to and from work and patients to their appointments. Volunteers have used their 4×4 vehicles to reach areas cut off by recent snowfall.
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