Garda issue appeal for man missing for over a week

Gardaí are appealing to the public for information on the whereabouts of Alan Patterson who has been missing since Wednesday March 29.

The 52-year-old, originally from Glasgow but who has been living in Mullingar since 2003, was last seen in the vicinity of Buckley's SuperValu on Austin Friars Street and he has had no contact with friends since that date.

Gardaí investigating say there has been no activity on Alan's mobile, bank cards, or social media since the time of his disappearance.

He failed to pick up his most recent social welfare payment, last doing so on the day of his disappearance.

A team of two detectives and one uniformed garda are currently investigating and are focusing on trying to locate the Alan's mobile phone, which stopped emitting a signal 48 hours at the time of going to press on Monday.

They say they are very concerned for his whereabouts.

"Unfortunately, Alan wasn't officially reported missing to us until late on Monday April 3 last," began Sgt-in-Charge Dave Jordan.

"So Alan was missing for the best part of five days before we could put a team onto it.

"He has been missing for a considerable length of time and so far we have not been able to locate his whereabouts. 

"Statements have been taken from a number of people and 40 different lines of enquiry are being followed up. We are currently investigating CCTV footage, including one vital piece of footage which shows him close to Buckley's SuperValu around the time of his disappearance.

"We are very concerned for his whereabouts. It's unusual that Alan would be missing for this long. Alan typically stays one night a week in his own house and then spends the rest of the time living with friends.

"We are worried for his wellbeing and we are urging any member of the public who has information on his whereabouts to contact us here at Mullingar Garda Station on  (044) 938 4000 as we are concerned for his welfare."

One of those friends, Patrick Hussey mounted a search on Saturday last and fears Alan has come to harm.

"He stayed at two different addresses, including Central Park on Bishopsgate Street, and another with friends in Ballinderry. I would be a good friend of his and I'm afraid that he has come to harm," he told the Westmeath Examiner on Monday.

"There was confusion over whether his passport was missing or not. Some think he might have just popped off for a few days, down the country or abroad, and gardaí are currently carrying out an all-Port check. He doesn't drive, and because the bus strike was on, it's likely he would have taken a train. 

"He last collected his social welfare payment on the day he went missing, but he hasn't collected it since which I feel is very worrying. We searched along the Canal, but that's like looking for a needle in a haystack."

Mr Hussey says Mr Patterson has no family in this country. “He has two brothers, but one of them lives in Scotland and one lives in South Africa.”

Mr Hussey describes Mr Paterson as being aboout 5'9” in height, of medium build, with slightly greying tightly cropped hair. He always wears a cap."

He is quiet, polite and a very gentlemanly sort of guy,” he states.

Mr Paterson spends some time with the 1428 Club in Mullingar.

- Anyone with information on Alan should contact Mullingar Garda Station on (044) 938 4000 or contact the confidential phone number on 1800 666 111.