A possible sighting back in Belfast of a young man missing for more than a week has been ruled out following an investigation.
The family of west Belfast man Anthony Dornan had hoped he may have returned to the city after being last captured on CCTV in Dublin’s Connolly Station a week ago.
However, it was not the 20-year-old missing since Saturday, January 11.
The reported sighting was outside the Europa Hotel on Monday night, according to his aunt, Janine Dowdall.
“She was certain it was him,” his aunt said of the worker with a homeless charity who thought it was Anthony.
An investigation by police officers on the ground ruled this out.
Following the reported sighting, members of Mr Dornan’s family and friends fanned across the city centre “putting up posters out everywhere trying to get his face out there”, Ms Dowdall said.
Police issued an appeal some days after he went missing from his home on Saturday January 11. They are “increasingly concerned” for his welfare, while his aunt described him as a “very vulnerable” young man who suffered health issues as recently as Christmas time.
The last image found and captured of him is at Connolly Station at around 9.20am. He travelled from Grand Central Station. However, there can be a lag between when a person is captured on CCTV and the footage found and circulated.
Mr Dornan is described as being 5ft 8in in height and of slim build, with blue eyes and brown hair.
“He was last seen wearing a thick grey coloured hooded jacket, a black woollen hat, navy blue coloured bottoms and black trainers,” a police spokesperson said. He was also carrying the woven-type shopping bag with green handles.”
However, Ms Dowdall revealed that after leaving home on the Saturday, he travelled by taxi to Newcastle in Co Down and back again. The taxi driver said Mr Dornan had wanted to take him to Dublin.
He did use his bank card to withdraw £240 early on Sunday and had taken out more money in the days before he went missing. His phone last pinged on Monday morning before he boarded the train to Dublin.
His family is appealing for anyone with information to come forward and spread his poster on social media, including to the south.
Police are asking people with information in respect of Anthony’s whereabouts to contact them on 101, quoting reference number 1146 of 14/01/25. A report can also be made online here.
