Searches underway in Strabane for missing man

SEARCHES are continuing in Strabane for a young man who has been missing since Saturday morning.

Michael McGinty was last seen in the Church Court area of the town at 8am on Saturday. He was wearing a black and red top, black bottoms and white trainers.

Personnel from the PSNI, Community Search and Rescue, and Foyle Search and Rescue are growing increasingly worried as their efforts to find the 20-year-old, which have included the deployment of helicopters and rescue boats, have thus far failed.

Sean McCarry, speaking on behalf of Community Search and Rescue, confirmed to the Tyrone Herald that reports of a helicopter flying over Strabane were connected to the search for Michael McGinty.

“We believe it is highly likely that Michael McGinty got into trouble in the water,” Mr McCarry explained.

“In our best efforts to find the young man, a helicopter has been dispatched, and our team has been conducting a search of the water from the Strabane end of the river, while Foyle Search and Rescue are working their way toward us from the Derry end”.

Mr McCarry continued, “The search is ongoing and we hope to find Michael soon.”

Anyone who has information about Michael’s whereabouts is asked to contact police urgently by calling 101 quoting reference number 1090 of 04/12/2021.