Gardai and Civil Defence Officers in Wicklow and Dublin have commended Civil Defence volunteers following the recent Missing Persons Operation in County Wicklow, which resulted in the recovery the body of Simon Day who went missing on Sunday 12th January from his home in Newtownmountkennedy, Co. Wicklow.
Wicklow Civil Defence Officer Michael Richardson and Assistance Civil Defence Officer Fergus Byrne expressed their appreciation at the professionalism shown during the search in Wicklow. CDO Richardson said “We know the morning session was a little challenging for a number of reasons but the afternoon session was conducted well and you are all to be commended for your efforts. It was a good result for the family of missing man and a good result for Civil Defence both Dublin and Wicklow as the gardai involved were very impressed with all your work.”
ACDO Byrne said “If anyone was affected in any way following the search and discovery please (feel) free to contact any of the full time officers in strictest confidence.”
28 year old Simon Day had been missing since 12th January. The popular and well known landscaper is survived by his parents and brothers. Tragically, Simon’s brother William, a Corporal in the Reserve Defence Forces was killed in a road traffic collision in December 2006.
This joint search and recovery operation between the Civil Defence and Gardai comes just weeks after the first ever National Missing Persons exercise was held in County Tipperary on 6th and 7th December last between the Garda College and the Civil Defence College. The purpose of the joint exercise was to develop a stronger inter-agency relationship between both services. While the exercise was a success, it may be fair to say that neither agency wishes to have to put a Missing persons operational plan into place, however, if and when it is required, the public can be assured that the Civil Defence are prepared, equipped and capable of such an operation.
