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TO MARK NATIONAL Missing Persons Day today, Deliveroo has announced that 100 food delivery bags will feature photos of missing people throughout December in a bid to help “bring them home” this Christmas.
The on-demand food delivery service has partnered with the National Missing Persons Helpline to highlight the cases of four missing men by displaying images of the men on Deliveroo riders’ food bags on the streets of Cork and Dublin.
The campaign will feature the faces and details of the following people:
Deliveroo has launched similar campaigns in the UK, Belgium, France and the Netherlands. In the UK, four people were found alive during the initiative, with the help of police and the UK missing persons body.
The Deliveroo app will also introduce a fundraising feature, which will give customers the opportunity to donate to the helpline. The company also donated €10,000.
According to the National Missing Persons Helpline, the average number of reports received each year is 8,700, with over 90 people untraced at year-end.
While the vast majority are found within 24 hours, around 45 people reported missing in Ireland in 2018 remain unaccounted for. “Christmas is a special time when families come together to celebrate the holiday and renew their special bond,” Dermot Browne of the National Missing Persons helpline said.
“However, amidst all of the glitter, flashing lights and present giving, families of the missing will be seeing that empty chair at the Christmas table and remembering a time when their loved one was sat there.
“We urge everyone in Cork and Dublin to keep an eye out for passing Deliveroo riders. We are always hopeful that this leads to a positive outcome for the families of missing persons.”
If you have any information about the National Missing Persons Helpline on 1890 442 552 or at info@missingpersons.ie or call the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666 111.
Our colleagues at Noteworthy.ie have published a proposal to investigate if there are more unsolved cases now than there were in the past, and whether Ireland is doing everything it can to investigate cases of missing people. Click here if you wish to support their work.
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Be great if they could give their cyclists lights also
@Dave Bolger: As a cyclist (and motorist) I totally agree. They shouldn’t be allowed work if they don’t have lights.
Liable to become a missing person themselves
@Dave Bolger: it’s not down to the company to supply lights., the drivers own their own bikes, therefore should buy their own lights,
And comments whining about cyclists in 3.. 2..1..
In fairness, its a smart idea.
@Finn Faulkner: Generous too, for the cyclists to offer to display the flyers while they’re working.
I wonder how the four missing people were selected by the campaign. Not to sound insensitive, but Trevor Deely has been a missing person 20 years this Christmas. Would it not be more sensible to feature those who’ve missing a much shorter period of time?
@Marbles: the four were chosen at random and with family approval. This is an ongoing project and new groups will be selected into the future.
Deliverpoo ha ha
Really good idea!! This country is terrible at promoting missing persons. Check out the Garda website’s missing persons page, it’s so under developed it’s embarrassing!!!! No excuse for the lack of work and effort they put into it.
Is this a government contract or just a campaign they are running on their own initiative?
I hadn’t realised how many there are, who were last seen in Ireland and not since. Almost twelve pages there on the Garda website.
have your say