Editorial: We need to find out the truth about Dean - Kilkenny Live

People do not disappear into thin air or vanish overnight without a trace, this is fiction and is not real.

For almost a decade the family and friends of Dean Roche have carried with them a massive torment, the not knowing what happened to their son, brother, father and friend and where he is now. It is complicated to grieve when you do not know what happened to your loved one or indeed where they are. There is no closure, no certainty, no room for healing just a horrible place of limbo where it is almost impossible to move on from.

Almost 10 years after his disappearance in March 2015 Dean’s brother Eamonn, friend, Damian Hipwell and Councillor Joe Malone are appealing to anyone with information to come forward. It is highly probable that someone knows where Dean Roche is and what happened to him. He has not been seen since the night of March 22, 2015 in Ballyfoyle. It has been reported that for a number of days following his disappearance his phone pinged in the area.

Gardaí continue their investigation and the case is very much open and active.

Although there is no trace of Dean ever leaving the Ballyfoyle area on that fateful night his body was never found. Dean’s mother Geraldine died broken-hearted not knowing where her son was. Her dying wish was to be reunited with her son and that they would be buried together.

The Roche family deserve to know where Dean is. Their love and commitment to him is unwavering and steadfast. Gardaí again this week are appealing to the public for information that might lead to the whereabouts of Dean Roche.

In a moment people can do things that are unconscionable, even to themselves. Whatever happened to Dean Roche is not known and may never come to light but his family are pleading to anyone who has information to come forward so finally he can be laid to rest alongside his mother.