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THE SISTER OF missing schoolboy Philip Cairns has described conspiracy theorists discussing his disappearance on social media as “deeply disrespectful and disturbing”.
Sandra Cairns spoke yesterday at National Missing Person’s Day at Farmleigh House in the Phoenix Park.
Describing her brother, who disappeared in 1986, as “a kind and thoughtful child who got on with everyone”, Sandra said she was horrified to discover what was being said online about his case and what might have happened to him.
She spoke of her fears that with so much inaccurate reporting on social media, those who may have the information to solve the case could now be apprehensive about coming forward.
She said: “There has been a campaign on social media which has been shocking and deeply distressing for our family. Individuals who don’t know Philip have tried to establish themselves as an authority on every aspect of his life. They have attempted to link Philip to individuals and groups who have no connection to us.
He has been inaccurately described as a troubled, distressed and vulnerable loner. A disturbing narrative has been created which casts a sinister shadow over everything he loved and enjoyed.
Sandra said that some people online had given a “callous portrayal” of her brother, one that bears no resemblance to the boy she knew. She added that the online campaign “maligns Philip and his family”.
On 23 October 1986, Philip went to the nearby Coláiste Éanna Secondary School in Rathfarnham in Dublin like any other day.
At 12.45pm he returned to his home on the nearby Ballyroan Road for his lunch. He left the house at 1.30pm and was never seen again.
Almost a week after Philip went missing, his schoolbag was found in a laneway that links Anne Devlin Road and Anne Devlin Drive.
Sightings
Philip’s geography book and two religion books were missing from the bag.
In June of this year the case was brought into the spotlight again as fresh information around Philip’s disappearance emerged.
RTÉ reported that gardaí had linked the disappearance of Cairns to the convicted paedophile Eamon Cooke – who operated a pirate radio station in Dublin at the time.
Superintendent Peter Duff would not confirm that Cooke was being actively investigated by gardaí, but said that there were multiple lines of inquiry open.
At a later press conference, gardaí said that shortly after an appeal for information on the case in 2011, a woman had come forward.
However, it had taken until May of this year for the woman to give information to the gardaí in relation to the investigation.
Gardaí would not confirm, but it was reported that the woman – who was a child at the time of his disappearance – had come forward with new information linking Cooke with Cairns.
Cooke died earlier this year.
Over 400 sightings of Philip were reported after he went missing and all of them were followed up.
In 2009, the entrance to a wooded area on Whitechurch Road in Rathfarnham was sealed off and searched when gardaí received a new lead. However, nothing was discovered.
Sandra concluded at the event that the family fears they may never find out what happened to Philip, but that anyone with information, no matter how small, should come forward.
She added: “My fear is that someone who has potentially valuable information might be dissuaded from disclosing it to gardai, which could then be lost forever.”
Anyone with information can call the garda confidential line on 1800 666 111.
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I think Philip’s case haunts many of us who remember the day he disappeared and assumed he would be found shortly after. It must be a living nightmare for the family and online speculation from some who weren’t even born in 1986 only adds to their suffering.
So many years have gone by now .. age is a factor here ..that person who knows the information is getting on in age and and will either reveal all or take it to their grave . Pure mental torture on the family ..
But why are people so sure that someone DOES know? (not altogether that familiar with the ins and outs.)
Gareth O Callaghan has said perpetrators are now deceased.
O’Callaghan should be ashamed of himself.
@Chauncey Evil triumphs when good people do nothing…
O’Callaghan’s done nothing but upset the family.
Its Gareth O Callaghan that Philips sister is referring to with his online campaign which made various wild accusations with no basis of truth i was blocked from it because i questioned his theories
I agree
Gemma O’Doherty has apparently upset Mary Boyles Mother & Uncle… What’s your point?
The internet has been an amazing revolution in technology but this article demonstrates the downside, ie that every moron now has a voice that historically only mates in the pub would hear, but now they can spread their vile rumours and conspiracies and cause genuine hurt to families such as this.
@ John B I am sure the moron voices can be silenced by the Journal or other media sites when hurtful comments are posted on line concerning this very sad story. I wonder how these stupid morons can sleep at night when they know the hurt that they have caused.
True John B, and it never ceases to amaze me that where very few people would believe some random stranger ranting in a pub, they’re totally willing to believe every word of some random stranger ranting on the internet!
Such a tragedy and the not knowing must be truly terrible and then you have the speculators who only add to the pain
Fair Play to Sandra Cairns for speaking out on this.
Many people who believe the conspiracy theories surrounding Philip Cairns, and other disappearances can be viscous. Anybody who disagrees with them usually gets accused of being part of the “cover up”.
@Ted Leddy: Are you happy the gardai keep suspecting/linking dead people in unsolved murders / disappearances?
Ah here, censorship is a bit much on this article. Anyway read Gareth O’Callaghan’s facebook page on this issue it is very convincing.
https://www.facebook.com/gareth.ocallaghan.1/
The church, FF & some cops all in cahoots on this one.
@Get Lost Eircodes: Ive read it over the past few months, very strange how the family feel the Gardai are doing a great job and they are not happy with interest groups collecting information re other victims ….
@Get Lost Eircodes: who do you think the family are talking about !!!
Darren read the interview his father gave to Jimmy Guerin 20 years ago. Father suspected local paedo ring. GOC fleshed that out.
Get Lost – obviously the family request has gone over your head. “Assumptions” are not evidence and the conspiracy theories put forward by Gareth O’Callaghan may make good reading and sound plausible but again it’s conjecture and assumptions. All of these have been investigated and discounted. If of course either yourself or any of the other activists have hard evidence have you presented it to Gardai? Or are you just interested in adding more hurt?! If you can’t make a positive contribution please give it a rest
I believe the mother of another missing person, Mary Boyle, doesn’t want an inquest as she told the coroner it would hurt her feelings to believe she is dead… family requests are funny sometimes.
No word from ff/fg on getting justice for the cairn family.
Why would they, its them and their political biddies past that are involved in it and the covering up of it! Absolute disgrace
Remember this is only 4 years after GUBU where a man who killed a nurse with a hammwr while she was sunbathing in the Phoenix Park and then shot a farmer in the face in Edenderry was subsequently found hidden in the flat of the then Fianna Fail Attorney General. Fianna Fail, like in the Mary Boyle and recent Waterford basketball coach paedo case have a lot to answer on this one…
How is it disrespectful to perform a critical analysis of a missing persons case in a group of people? Is she worried they might find something she doesn’t want them to know?
Can’t even ask a question without triggering simpletons these days.
@Jimmy Rustle: Idiot
@Jimmy Rustle:@Jimmy Rustle: The “critical analysis” to which you refer makes unfounded assumptions about the character, personality and behaviour of their missing brother by people who never knew him.
Even if this analysis was accurate what bearing would it have on his disappearance?
Can you not understand that would be upsetting to any family in such tragic circumstances?
@David Mac Shite: Followed this intently and don’t recall any negative “unfounded assumptions about the character, personality and behaviour of their missing brother”
Plenty of assumptions about the character, personality and behaviour of the church, gardai and some in the locality but nothing bad about Philip who has always been treated with utmost sympathy & respect by GOC.
Perfect example right there. Jimmy Rustle implied that the mother doesn’t want amateur sleuths looking into because she has something to hide. Want to make a critical analysis? Use your real name and face any consequences that may arise from your accusations
Sure his brother thinks he’s still alive for crying out loud.
People do love transfering their own bitterness and anger on to innocent victims, using others limelight to bring attention to themselves, what sad people and the thing is they haven’t a clue and yet some think that they are right. The only thing these people are doing is proving how much they don’t know, that they are full of b…s.. and what type of person they are. What type of person would should out what they want to be true from a fantasy of theirs and it is their arrogance as in stupidity that makes they think that they are right and they do it because they think this will make them have control over another person, just as a bully would.
They just don’t get it, how wrong they are and how stupid they become, if I was her I let them talk s…e as it only proves 1 thing and that is how much of a nasty stupid git they are, as all they want is a reaction, they need a reaction to feel something good about themselves, they crave attention like a crying baby.
The boy in the middle picture with Philip’s mother is Philip’s brother, not Philip himself.
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