Missing Offaly man’s mother renews public appeal
"It's been incredibly emotional, none of this makes sense".
The words of Pauline Price, who this week called on the public to help locate her missing son Luke Price, from Geashill, who was last seen on January 14, 2025.
Gardai issued a fresh appeal for information on the first anniversary of the disappearance of the 28-year-old chef who was reported missing from his home in Mountkennet, Limerick city, on the date in question.
Luke is described as being approximately 5'10" in height and at the time of his disappearance his hair was light brown in colour with a blonde dye. Of slim build, Luke was wearing a black coat, blue jeans and black boots at the time of his disappearance.
On January 14, 2025, Luke travelled from Portlaoise to Colbert Train Station, Limerick city via Limerick Junction. He socialised in Limerick and then went to O’Curry Street with a friend.
He left O’Curry Street at approximately 9pm and went in the direction of Dock Road. It is unknown where Luke went after Dock Road and his current whereabouts is unknown.
A number of searches have taken place with the help of family members and volunteers, which have included the services of the Tipperary Search and Rescue, the R115 helicopter, Valentia Coastguard, Marine Rescue and Civil Defence and Gardaí.
Speaking to the Offaly Independent on Thursday morning, Offaly resident Pauline believes that Luke's disappearance "was not planned".
"Luke was launching his career as a chef and making great progress in his job.”
He really was enjoying his job and had a bright future ahead, so I don't believe that his disappearance was planned. He also ordered a new computer desk and gaming chair the night before he was reported missing. So his disappearance really is a mystery," Pauline said.
Luke was due to return to see his mother on January 22 but this never came to pass. He was also due back at his work on January 31.
"Luke was reported as missing to the gardai within two hours of his disappearance in Limerick. It is one of two phone calls parents hope they never receive. It is the not knowing what or why this has happened. Even if we receive bad news about Luke it would still be better than not knowing his whereabouts," Pauline added.
Pauline said numerous reported sightings of Luke have been made to Gardai and Pauline remains hopeful that he will be located.
"There has been alleged sightings of Luke in Nenagh, Navan, Dundalk, Portarlington, Galway, Shannon, Athlone. Some of the CCTV images I have seen show an uncanny likeness to Luke and have taken my breath away, but on closer inspection there are discrepancies which tell me that it is not him sadly," Pauline added.
Pauline is extremely grateful to the gardai and public for their assistance to date and called for any information to be passed on "as quickly as possible" to the authorities.
"Time is crucial in the case of a missing person. The frustration remains for all our family as we want to to find Luke so so much. This life is not the life my family and I were living two years ago. Our family and friends have been all damaged by his disappearance and we may never be the same again. However, you have to stay hopeful, you just have to," Pauline said.
Anyone with information on Luke’s whereabouts is asked to contact Henry Street Garda Station on 061 212 400, the Garda Confidential Line on 1800 666 111, or any Garda station.