Disappearance of Philip Cairns
Philip Cairns (born 1 September 1973) disappeared on the afternoon of 23 October 1986 while walking back to school in south Dublin, Ireland from his home in Ballyroan. A large-scale investigation was carried out but no trace of the boy has ever been found. His disappearance is now treated as a high-profile child murder case; the only similar incident in Ireland was the murder of Robert Holohan in January 2005. It is one of the most high-profile disappearances in recent Irish history.
Philip Cairns | |
|---|---|
| Born | Philip Cairns 1 September 1973 |
| Disappeared | 23 October 1986 (aged 13) Ireland |
| Status | Missing for 37 years, 5 months and 23 days |
| Parent(s) | Alice Cairns (mother) Philip Cairns (father) |
| Relatives | Eoin Cairns (young brother) |
Philip's family have issued numerous appeals for information. A reconstruction took place in 2007 and was later televised on RTÉ One, while a reward of €10,000 has also been offered. The book When Heaven Waits, published in 2007, featured an interview with Philip's mother. Nobody has ever been arrested. The case remains open.