UPDATE: Garda search in the Midlands for man missing for over four years ends

A search operation which had hoped to locate the remains of missing man William Delaney has ended. 

Gardai had been searching outside Portlaoise in an operation that lasted for a number of days. 

William Delaney, who was 56 and lived in Portlaoise, went missing four years ago and is believed to have been murdered. 

Unfortunately, Gardai did not find his remains in the latest search which had taken place at bogland in Kyletalesha just outside Portlaoise. The search concluded this evening. 

It’s understood Garda the very detailed search of a relatively small patch of land was conducted in response to information received. Gardai used a mechanical digger to assist in the search. 

The area was located off the main N80 Portlaoise to Mountmellick Road near the council-run Kyletalesha landfill. 

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Gardai also combed the surrounding area for anything of evidential value during the operation which lasted a number of days. 

Mr Delaney went missing on January 30, 2019. The Tipperary native had been living in Fielbrook, Portlaoise with his family at the time of his disappearance. 

On the morning he vanished, Mr Delaney left Portlaoise Hospital where he had been receiving treatment. Gardai established that he collected his welfare payments at Portlaoise Post Office after leaving the hospital.

The last confirmed sighting of Mr Delaney was at approximately 3pm on January 30, 2019 in Monasterevin, Co Kildare where he called to visit a relative who lived in the area. The relation wasn’t at home but William was spotted outside the premises which is situated on the old Cork-Dublin Road directly opposite the Hazel Hotel. Mr Delaney was then reported missing by his family on March 6, 2019.

In June 2019 Gardaí received information that William Delaney had been killed and that his body had been buried at a location in Laois. A comprehensive search was conducted in the area surrounding the Rock of Dunamaise but no remains were discovered.

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In May of this year a 29 year-old man was sentenced to two months in prison at Portlaoise District Court for deliberately providing false information in relation to the location of Mr Delaney’s remains.

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