Volunteers needed for search effort this afternoon

A major land search begins at 2pm today as part of the ongoing effort to trace a missing local woman.

Kathleen Reilly from Coosan, was last seen at her home last Thursday morning when she left to go for a walk.

To date, there has been only one confirmed sighting of Kathleen, who is 74, after that -  at 2.30pm near the Primary Care Centre in Clonbrusk. She was walking in the direction of Coosan at that time.  

Gardai are appealing to anyone who can assist a major coordinated land search to congregate for a briefing at 2pm in Arcadia Business Park, close to the Applegreen filling station. Volunteers are asked to wear appropriate footwear and clothing as the terrain can be difficult in places.

The land search this afternoon is expected to concentrate on land north of the bypass and other areas of Coosan.

Kathleen Reilly is described as being of a small build, thin, 5ft in height approximately with grey hair. She was last seen wearing a long black Mac coat and black boots (knee length). She wears red/brown framed glasses.  

A major water search will restart on Thursday involving divers from all over the region. Liam Sherringham, who is Search and Recovery Coordinator with Athlone Sub Aqua Club and a crew member with the RNLI, said that an “extensive search” of the area of water from the bypass to the railway bridge has been completed since the weekend, along with Coosan Lough.