Irish Person Missing in the UK, 1970's. A Police Matter?

Hi all

A friends father was last heard of in the 1970's.

He is Irish and had been living in England since the 60's.

Family relatives in the UK, in the same city, have recently confirmed that the last known sighting was in the 1970's.

We have conducted a Persons Search through the Salvation Army, whom I presume went through register of deaths, but found nothing on this person.

I'm contacting them shortly to ask their advice as "where to now"?

Should this now be referreed to the UK Police as a Missing Person? Or is there any other search avenue that can be taken before that?

Footnote: UK and Irish death records searched with no record of this missing person. If he is still alive, which is very doubtful, he would be in his 90's. And I'm guessing that the UK Police wont get involved unless there are circumstances that would suggest foul play or other (?)

Thanks.

coylemj

Tinley Echoing Lettuce wrote: »

And I'm guessing that the UK Police wont get involved unless there are circumstances that would suggest foul play or other (?)

Correct. You are using the term 'missing person' but the police attitude will be that this person has chosen to cut his ties with his family and he is perfectly entitled to do so. This is basically a family estrangement and the police will not get involved.

@CoyleMJ

@CoyleMJ. Thanks for that. It's strange that he isn't showing up on any death records. Maybe he is still alive, which I very much doubt. And if he is deceased, perhaps his name was recorded differently on records and overlooked. Might be a simple answer to it.

The Salvation Army did a lot of digging, but couldn't find any record of him. It would be good to get an answer for my friend as to what did happen to his father.

He had been writing regular enough letters, every Christmas and maybe a birthday or two, and then they stopped in the late 70's and no one had any contact with him after that.

coylemj

Tinley Echoing Lettuce wrote: »

@CoyleMJ. Thanks for that. It's strange that he isn't showing up on any death records.

I'm not asking you to name the individual here but is there no record of anyone of that name passing away in the last 40-50 years in the UK? I assume you supplied his DOB and someone in births & deaths records checked and (on getting no direct hits) then widened the search to people with +/- 5 or 10 years birth year?

The usual next step for a search of this type is to hire a private investigator but I'd suggest that without a social security number, that would probably be a waste of money.

nuac

Have you tried the DHSS?
If the man is still alive they may be prepared to forward a letter.
Also could advertise in local Irish paper to tap into the grape-vine of the diaspore

coylemj

coylemj wrote: »

I'm not asking you to name the individual here but is there no record of anyone of that name passing away in the last 40-50 years in the UK? I assume you supplied his DOB and someone in births & deaths records checked and (on getting no direct hits) then widened the search to people with +/- 5 or 10 years birth year?

The usual next step for a search of this type is to hire a private investigator but I'd suggest that without a social security number, that would probably be a waste of money.

Thanks for that. I spoke to the Salvation Army and they would have done searches as you have described, starting from early 70's to present day, but nothing found. Yes indeed, we have considered a private investigator as the most likely next step.

nuac

nuac wrote: »

Have you tried the DHSS?
If the man is still alive they may be prepared to forward a letter.
Also could advertise in local Irish paper to tap into the grape-vine of the diaspore

Thanks Nuac. I'm presuming the Salvation Army did that (DHSS), but I'll double check with them. The advertisement in the local paper is a good idea.

The family in the UK who knew him up until the mid/late 70's have said that he just disappeared off the radar.

As with many such estrangements, alcohol was a factor. A solitary man, who wrote about once a year at Christmas time to his family in Ireland which then stopped.

Alun

Tinley Echoing Lettuce wrote: »

@CoyleMJ. Thanks for that. It's strange that he isn't showing up on any death records. Maybe he is still alive, which I very much doubt. And if he is deceased, perhaps his name was recorded differently on records and overlooked. Might be a simple answer to it.

Depending on the name, it's possible that it's recorded in many different forms across different records, that's certainly a problem with many Irish names when doing genealogical searches. A relative of my wife was variously O'Donoghue, Donoghue, O'Donohue, Donohue and even Donohoe in different records in Ireland and the UK over his lifetime for example.

Thanks Alun. It may well be that (name mispelt) is what happened.

Vetch

It might be worth trying churches local to the last known address to see if there are any records eg if Catholic, last rites; or burial records. If he was registered to vote, any registers of electors that are available. If he happened to be a local authority tenant, the local authority to ask if there are any records.

@Vetch

@Vetch. Thanks for that, yours and others suggestions are very helpful.

I was assuming that the Salvation Army would have carried those out, but that may not be the case. Going on the amount of suggested possibilities from Boards, he just has to feature somewhere. Many thanks all.

Alun

If the letters he wrote are still in existence it might also be an idea to trawl through these for clues ... people he knew, places he visited or worked at, pubs he frequented etc.

Also if it's one of the bigger cities in England, there's almost certainly an Irish Club there and some of the older members might remember him.

@Alun

@Alun. Thanks. Liverpool, so all that you have suggested would be very valid possibilities.

Victor

What is the possibility that he moved to another country? Admittedly less likely for someone then in their 50s.

Victor

Victor wrote: »

What is the possibility that he moved to another country? Admittedly less likely for someone then in their 50s.

Hi Victor, that is of course a possibility, but one which I would doubt, but its possible. From what I know of the person, he would have stayed very local to where he was living, work, pub, bedsit. And probably latterly, pub, bedsit.

I'll let you guys know if there are any developments made. Many thanks.

prinzeugen

If you know where he was last living perhaps pay a visit? Its amazing what will people remember for a pint.

If the local Irish community is like the one I know from Scotland, someone will know something.

But you need to physically go there. Talk to older people (Bingo halls, ex servicemens clubs etc), take a picture of him with you.

Someone will recognise him from the past and might give you a lead.