Development in 18 year old missing person case Clones, Co Monaghan 18 May 2020Gardaí investigating the disappearance of Michael ‘Tony’ Lynch from his home in Clones, County Monaghan on January 6, 2002 have reported a significant development after a car was receovered from Lough Erne in Co Fermanagh.
This development arose after members of the public uncovered an anomaly in the water yesterday, 18 May 2020.
These men were aware of An Garda Síochána’s renewed appeal for information regarding the location of Mr Lynch’s car earlier this year and made contact with Clones Garda Station.
An Garda Síochána liaised closely with our colleagues in the PSNI and shortly after 2pm on Monday May 18, police divers carried out an underwater search of the lake and discovered that a car was submerged.
The vehicle has been recovered for examination and is believed to be the Mitsubishi belonging to Mr Lynch who was reported missing 18 years ago.
As part of the renewed appeal into the disappearance of Michael ‘Tony’ Lynch in January of this year An Garda Síochána conducted searches at 10 lakes in Co Monaghan. These searches were to continue and were to include lakes in and around the border region, however the searches were suspended in March 2020 arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Inspector Graham Tolan of Monaghan Garda Station said, "An Garda Síochána will continue to investigate missing person’s cases for as long as it takes. In this case An Garda Síochána have been searching for Mr Lynch for 18 years.
"We are grateful to the members of the public who alerted us to this anomaly in the water. I’d like to remind the public that small pieces of information, no matter how insignificant they may seem, can often prove vital, as is the case today”.
We will continue to work with Police in Lisnaskea who are investigating the circumstances surrounding the discovery".
A family liaison officer attached to An Garda Síochana has been appointed and is liaising with Mr Lynch’s family.
Previous press release below:
On the 18th anniversary of the disappearance of Michael Tony Lynch from his home in Clones, County Monaghan, An Garda Síochána is renewing its appeal for information about his last known movements.
Mr Lynch, who was known locally by the name Tony, was 55 years old and was originally from Magheraveely, County Fermanagh. He was living in Clones prior to his disappearance, and was reported missing on the 9 January 2002.
To coincide with the 18th anniversary of his disappearance Gardaí in Clones in conjunction with local members of Monaghan Civil Defence will conduct a series of planned searches of lakes and quarries in the Clones area.
The first of these searches takes place today, January 2 at Gortnawinny Lough, Clones, and media are invited to attend at 11am.
The last known sighting of Mr Lynch was at Fermanagh Street Clones, County Monaghan at 6pm on the 6th of January 2002.
The investigation into Mr Lynch’s disappearance is ongoing and to date Mr Lynch and his car - a white Mitsubishi Galant registration number TIL4670 - have not been located.
The purpose of the planned searches is to establish if Mr Lynch’s vehicle may have been submerged at one of these locations.
The planned operation will begin on January 2, 2020, and will include the use of a drone which can guide Gardaí and the Civil Defence team to locations if interest in the search.
Gardaí investigating this missing person case have exhausted a number of leads and at this point are renewing their appeal for information. Anyone who may have had sight of this vehicle and/or Mr Lynch since January 6, 2002 is asked to come forward.
They are also anxious to speak with any landowners who may have noticed a car abandoned on lands or submerged in waters which may fit the description of Mr Lynch’s white Mitsubishi Galant car.
Those with information are asked to contact Gardaí in Clones on (047) 51028, the Garda confidential line 01-800-666-111 or any Garda Station.
