Fears grow for missing Breda Delaney (72) last seen at the weekend

The pensioner went missing from Avondale Court, Blackrock, Dublin, at 3.30am on Saturday.

A group of volun- teers met at Blackrock Dart station at 7pm yesterday to resume a search of the surrounding area.

The mother-of-one was reported missing by her husband, Tom. Her daughter, Eimear, said yesterday that the family are "desperately worried".

She said they need details regarding her mother's movements on Saturday morning. She appealed to taxi drivers and ferry passengers in particular to make contact if they think they saw her.

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Eimear said her mother was "very smart, and interested in anything and everything".

"She used to teach physics at NUI Maynooth. She loves classical music, Italian and painting," she said, adding that her mother had been "very depressed and anxious" before she went missing.

The response the family had received from the public was "overwhelming", said Eimear.

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In a televised message to her mother on TV3, she said: "Please come home, we miss you so much. Come back to us, please, please."

Mrs Delaney is from Waterford, and her family said it is possible she travelled there.

woodlands

"I'm concerned about coastal areas in Dublin, particularly between Dun Laoghaire and Killiney, as well as parks and woodlands and mountainous areas," said Eimear.

Mrs Delaney is 5ft 4in, of slight build, with shoulder-length blonde/grey hair and blue eyes.

When last seen she was wearing a white cardigan, a grey calf-length skirt and black shoes.

Members of the Dun Laoghaire RNLI have been involved in a shore search.

A large team of local people plus Civil Defence members from Greystones and Howth Coast Guard units joined family, friends and neighbours in checking coastal areas.

The Dun Laoghaire Coast Guard led a search on Sunday and covered a 10km stretch.

"Gardai are concerned for Breda's welfare," said a spokesman. "We are requesting property owners in the Blackrock area to check their premises and grounds."