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Amy’s aunt to meet Minister

Wednesday, 23 July 2008

THE aunt of Coolock teenager Amy Fitzpatrick, who went missing in Spain in January, will meet Minister for Justice, Dermot Ahern, this week to discuss the implementation of a Europe-wide missing child rapid response unit. Christine Kenny, from Donaghmede, launched an appeal in Northside People last month for people to sign her petition that would help secure the programme. After gathering over 20,000 signatures, Ms Kenny handed the petition into the European Parliament offices on Dawson Street last Friday week. The petition is calling for a new European rapid response system that would allow officials across Europe to react immediately when a child goes missing. Ms Kenny, who will now present Minister Ahern with the petition, is renewing her appeal for volunteers to collect signatures and for people to sign it online. “Since Amy went missing on New Year’s Day in Spain, the reality of how important a system like this is, has really hit me,” she told Northside People. “The parents of Madeline McCann have brought this to the European Parliament and they have the backing of enough MEPs to get it passed. “I hope to continue the pressure at this end so we can have full public support and raise awareness for this important cause.” Christine’s petition calls for the creation of a system similar to the North American Amber Alert Programme, a voluntary partnership between law-enforcement agencies, broadcasters, and transportation agencies to activate an urgent bulletin in the most serious child-abduction cases. A website has been established at www.amyfitzpatrickmissing.com to inform members of the public about Amy’s case and allow them to get involved in the petition. In a recent statement, Minister Ahern called on the Garda Inspectorate to look into the establishment of such a system. "The issue of asking the Garda Inspectorate to undertake a study along these lines has been pursued by me over the last number of weeks,” Minister Ahern stated. “Discussions were held with the Garda Inspectorate and An Garda Síochána, particularly in relation to what the scope of the proposed study would be, and a terms of reference for the study was drawn up.” Minister Ahern said it was a traumatic event for anyone to have to report a loved one as missing. “Having a missing loved one who is untraced causes unimaginable heartache for family and friends,” he stated. “We must do everything we can to locate missing persons and we must ensure that the systems in place are the best possible for dealing with such cases.“ Amy (16) went missing in Mijas, while walking home from her friend’s house and has not been seen since. Since then her family have been desperately seeking any information that might lead to her safe return. Donaghmede ward councillor Killian Forde (SF) has been offering support to Christine and was in attendance when she handed over the petition at the European Parliament offices. He said pressure must be put on the Spanish police to continue their investigation. “I have known Christine for years as a neighbour and will help her as much as I can in this,” Cllr Forde told Northside People. “We have heard that there is a new line of enquiry in Spain and that the police are re-interviewing people. “The campaign is currently going very well and I would encourage people to sign the petition.”