Most Expensive search And Waste of Time

A SEARCH of Wicklow Harbour for a missing man found safe and well in Wexford cost in excess of €100,000.

Clothing belonging to the man in his 30s was found near the pier on Friday, while his car was abandoned by the harbour.

An extensive search of the harbour and bay were carried out by Wicklow RNLI, the Garda Underwater Unit and the coastguard, including the involvement of a coast guard helicopter.

The search was called off as darkness fell and resumed first thing on Saturday morning, only for rescue personnel to receive a call from the Gardai informing them that the missing man had been located in Wexford, where he was alive and well.

Each RNLI lifeboat launch costs in the region of €5,000, while the involvement of the coast guard helicopter and the Garda Underwater Unit means the bill for the search was well over €100,000. The man was interviewed by Wicklow Gardai on Saturday before returning home.

Earlier in the week the same man was the subject of a garda alert after unexpectedly removing his three daughters from school. He was pursued by the Gardai before his vehicle came to a stop after mounting a roundabout. A SEARCH of Wicklow Harbour for a missing man who was feared drowned was called off after he was found to be 'alive and well' in Wexford.

The search began on Friday after the man's clothing was found just off the pier. His car, containing his coat and pictures of his three children, was found abandoned at the harbour. The keys were still in the ignition.

Earlier in the week the same man was arrested and detained for medical treatment after causing a major Garda alert when he went missing with his three children.

There were immediate fears for his safety on Friday and a search was quickly underway by 8.30 a.m.. The Garda Underwater Unit trawled the harbour at South Quay, while Wicklow Lifeboat embarked on an extensive search of the area. A coast guard helicopter was also involved in the operation.

The search was called off as darkness fell and resumed the following morning. However, at 9.40 a.m. on Saturday search crews received word from gardai that the man was 'safe and well' and had been located in Wexford.

Wicklow RNLI were out on Friday for five hours searching for the man as concerns grew that he may have taken his own life. 'We were just all delighted to hear he was safe. That's the main thing,' said an RNLI spokesperson.

The same man was involved in an incident on Wednesday which saw him being pursued by Gardai as he travelled in a car containing his three children.

Gardai asked the public for their assistance in tracing the car, but warned people not to approach the driver. The car he was driving had been last seen in an estate in Ashford at 10.30 a.m., though it's understood the man lives in Rathnew.

During a search, which included the involvement of a Garda Air Support Unit, the car was spotted at Brittas Bay before heading to the N11 near Rathnew. Gardai began a short pursuit which ended when the man attempted to take the slip-way at the Ballinabarney Junction and ended up losing control of his vehicle and mounting the roundabout, knocking over a number of traffic signs.

As a precautionary measure an ambulance was called to check on the well-being of the children, none of whom were injured during the incident.

The day appears to have started as normal with the Father dropping his three daughters - ages 12, 9 and 7 - to school at 10 a.m.. However, he returned half an hour later demanding that he be allowed remove them from classes. This went against school protocol and concerned teachers tried to persuaded him to allow the children to remain in class. He became agitated before leaving with his three children.

He drove away from the school in his own car, but later switched to a borrowed blue Nissan Almera.

Once alerted to the situation Gardai were extremely anxious to locate the car and its occupants. A description of the driver and the registration number of his vehicle were released in and effort to locate his whereabouts. Roadblocks were also set up and the air support unit called out.

After his arrest the man was detained at Wicklow Garda Station under the Mental Health Act.