logo
‘It fills us with hope' says family of Icelandic man missing in Dublin after gardai conduct new searches

‘It fills us with hope' says family of Icelandic man missing in Dublin after gardai conduct new searches

The Irish Sun12-05-2025

GARDAI have conducted further searches in a bid to solve the six-year riddle over the disappearance of a missing Icelandic man.
Advertisement
2
Jón Jónsson was last seen in 2019
Credit: Collect
The dad of four left the Bonnington Hotel on February 9, but the last sighting was him passing Highfield
A true crime podcast series from
It emerged today that cops received a number of tips following the Where is Jón? podcast series.
And Jon's family told how it had resulted in new searches across a number of areas in
Advertisement
Read more in News
While the searches last month proved unsuccessful, Mr Jónsson's brother David Karl Wiium insisted it was important to 'leave no stone unturned'.
He said: 'It's really important to basically leave no stone unturned and always look into every possibility at any given time.
'So that's very optimistic and it fills us with hope.'
Jon's family also welcomed a recent meeting in the Hague between the
Advertisement
MOST READ IN THE IRISH SUN
Mr Wiium, who had been pushing for seeking more cooperation between the gardaí and Icelandic authorities, described the meeting in the Hague as a 'huge' development.
He said: 'Basically, we have been fighting for the Icelandic police and the gardaí to work closer together throughout the years.
"So, for us, it's a huge victory that they have already met and that they have already established more personal connections and cooperation.
"And what I've been told by the gardaí, the Icelandic police were very cooperative.'
Advertisement
INITIAL SEARCH
The initial search was conducted after gardai
The Garda investigation into the disappearance of the dad has continued over the last six years.
The missing man was last spotted at the exit of Highfield Hospital heading northbound on the Swords Road towards Collins Avenue in February 2019.
Advertisement
He left his hotel room without his phone, passport and wallet, although he may have had a large sum of cash with him.
Mr Jónsson was visiting Ireland to attend the Dublin Poker Festival.
While cops have followed 270 lines of enquires, taken numerous statements and have reviewed hours of CCTV the case remains a mystery.
2
The family believe Jón was killed
Advertisement

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Gardai carried out ‘controlled delivery' of guns to Carlow shooter before ‘extraordinary event', Dail committee told
Gardai carried out ‘controlled delivery' of guns to Carlow shooter before ‘extraordinary event', Dail committee told

The Irish Sun

timean hour ago

  • The Irish Sun

Gardai carried out ‘controlled delivery' of guns to Carlow shooter before ‘extraordinary event', Dail committee told

AN Oireachtas committee has heard that the man who died in a shooting incident in an Irish shopping centre received guns in a controlled delivery by Gardai. Garda Commissioner Drew Harris was questioned about Evan Fitzgerald by Labour TD Alan Kelly and former Minister for Justice Michael McDowell before the 2 Garda Commissioner Harris was questioned when he appeared before the committee Evan Fitzgerald, 22, from Portrushen Upper near Kiltegan in He appeared in Labour TD Kelly queried if it had been a "controlled delivery" of guns and ammunition, saying he had "serious concerns" that undercover READ MORE IN IRISH NEWS A controlled delivery is a method used world-wide, and sees a suspect being given illicit items by an undercover Kelly asked: "Did undercover gardaí engage face-to-face with this young man prior to this delivery of Harris said he was unable to discuss the provenance of the firearms and where they came from, and could not confirm if Gardai engaged in a controlled delivery as two other people are before the courts. He said: "I would say that controlled delivery is very sensitive police methodology. Most read in Irish News "We use it for both organised After the two-hour hearing, he was quizzed by Michael McDowell and proceeded to expand on his response, saying: "You'll be aware that controlled delivery is a tactic that's often used around both firearms and COMPLIANT He also added that the case had been examined since Fitzgerald died on June 1, and it was found that he was compliant in his interactions with Gardai, along with his bail conditions. He explained: "Might I say then that obviously there has been an examination following the terrible incidents of the first of June. "We've looked to what we knew of this individual beforehand, and I just, I want to be very careful, because he's been described so many [ways] in the media, but in our interactions with him, he was compliant. "He complied with his bail conditions up until the first of June, and certainly by his behaviors, we didn't anticipate the events of the first of June. It was an extraordinary event". The committee heard that the office of the Police Ombudsman, Fiosru, examined an investigation file into the controlled delivery and concluded that there was no issue of concern. In response to a question from FAR RIGHT OF 'HUGE CONCERN' Kelly noted that counter terror detectives in the Special Detective Unit, the Gardai's anti- He added that cops on a national and local level monitor online activity surrounding protests and specialist training. Kelly then noted that equipment has been given to Gardai. He explained: "Absolutely, to your specific question the far right. "Of course, it's a huge concern to us, absolutely huge concern to us. "We have dedicated officers in the special detective unit, our counterterrorism operational unit, and that's all they do". 2 Evan Fitzgerald died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound Credit: Garda Press Office

Deadly African scorpion is found by horrified Brit woman after it ‘crawled past her feet' while she watched TV
Deadly African scorpion is found by horrified Brit woman after it ‘crawled past her feet' while she watched TV

The Irish Sun

time2 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

Deadly African scorpion is found by horrified Brit woman after it ‘crawled past her feet' while she watched TV

A WOMAN has been left terrified after returning home from holiday and discovering a "deadly" scorpion in her home. It is believed the Advertisement 4 The woman spotted the terrifying scorpion crawling across her floor Credit: Facebook 4 The small creature packs a venomous punch Credit: Swindon Community Notice Board/Facebook The deadly scorpion was discovered in a Swindon home earlier this month. It was reportedly spotted by the homeowner as she sat watching TV with the The terrified homeowner bravely trapped it under a wine glass before transferring it into a jar where it was safely kept until help arrived. The Advertisement Read more in News Jonathan Cleverly who provides educational workshops for schools featuring Jonathan took the creature away after identifying it as a member of the Buthidae family which several of the most deadly scorpion species in the world are also a part of. After getting the deadly creature home Jonathan made sure to keep it locked up safely before finding it a new home. Jonathan owns several scorpions himself and was well prepared with the proper equipment to transport the deadly animal. Advertisement Most read in The Sun He dismissed the idea that the animal was an escaped pet, believing it snuck into the UK in the woman's luggage. The dangerous creatures are commonly found in Africa from where the homeowner had recently returned. The scorpion has since been taken to live with an expert who has a DWA (Dangerous Wild Animals) licence. Moment student finds deadly Chinese SCORPION inside her parcel It was estimated to be around 4cm long with Jonathan calling it the "most dangerous animal" he ever had. Advertisement Speaking to the BBC Jonathan said: "She'd [the homeowner] done a brilliant job of moving it from a wine glass into a jam jar with a secure lid so it couldn't move and escape. "She put in some lettuce for a bit of moisture. She looked after it brilliantly well. "The scorpion, I would like to say, is absolutely gorgeous - even if it is 4 The homeowner managed to contain the scorpion until help arrived Credit: Swindon Community Notice Board/Facebook Advertisement 4 The deadly scorpion is believed to be a member of the Buthidae family Credit: Facebook The six legged creature boasts a pair of fearsome looking claws and a large, venomous stinger on its tail. Coming in at just 4cm the scorpion is small but When fully grown the scorpion can reach a terrifying 12cm, more than twice the size of the one found in Swindon. Advertisement What are the most poisonous animals in the world? Here are seven of the most deadly creatures... The box jellyfish is widely regarded to be the most posionous animal in the world and contians a toxin that can cause heart attacks Cobras, typically found in the jungles of India and China, can spit a venom which can result in death in a very short space of time and just 7ml of their venom is enough to kill 20 humans The marbled cone snail is a sea creature that can release venom so toxic it can result in vision loss, respiratory failure, muscle paralysis and eventually death and, to make things worse, there is no anti-venom available Posion dart frogs are small and brightly coloured but have glands containing a toxin that blocks nerve signals to muscles, causing paralysis and death Puffer fish are considered to be a dangerous delicacy because some of their anatomy contains a hazardous toxin which, if ingested in a large quantity, can cause convulsions, paralysis, cardiac arrhythmia, and ultimately death The Brazillian wandering spider, also known as the 'banana spider', has venom that is so high in serotonin it can paralyse and kill Death stalker scorpions have a fitting name as enough venom from one can cause a lot of pain and respiratory failure

Ballymena riots which left 15 cops injured branded ‘racist thuggery' with major op to stem new chaos after boys in court
Ballymena riots which left 15 cops injured branded ‘racist thuggery' with major op to stem new chaos after boys in court

The Irish Sun

time5 hours ago

  • The Irish Sun

Ballymena riots which left 15 cops injured branded ‘racist thuggery' with major op to stem new chaos after boys in court

A MOTHER who lives in one of the houses attacked during violence in Ballymena said she had been left too scared to stay in the area. The mother-of-three said her children were asking why their house was being attacked 5 A Ballymena resident said she's too scared to stay in the area following the riots Credit: Pacemaker 5 Firefighters attended the scene after two homes were set alight Credit: Pacemaker 5 People wearing masks threw masonry and other missiles Credit: Pacemaker Her comments come after Several properties were damaged on Clonavon Terrace in The violent scenes in the area left 15 police injured and a number of cops cars damaged. The violence followed an earlier protest in support of the family of a girl who was the victim of an alleged READ MORE IN NEWS Two 14-year-old boys appeared in court on Monday charged with attempted rape. The charges were read to the teenagers by a Romanian interpreter. The PA news agency spoke to a number of residents of houses in the street on Tuesday who said they now intended to leave the area. The woman, who said she was too afraid to give her name, said she tried to flee her house after the front window was broken. Most read in Irish News She said: 'The children were asking me why are we being attacked. 'I don't want to stay here now, the children are afraid and I am afraid.' 'POGRAM PREVENTED' In the aftermath of the rioting, the chairman of the Police Federation said the actions of PSNI officers saved lives and 'prevented a pogrom with consequences too painful to contemplate'. Liam Kelly, the head of the group that represents rank and file PSNI officers, said cops faced attacks which were 'totally mindless, unacceptable and feral'. Mr Kelly said: 'Once again, our colleagues were caught up trying to quell hate-filled violence on our streets. 'Officers who were trying to protect life and property came under unjustified sustained attack. 'All right-minded people should utterly condemn these actions and provide information and assistance to the PSNI so they can identify those who engaged in the various lawless acts of thuggery. 'Officers' injuries tell a frightening story of a mob fully intent on inflicting great harm on people. 'Police officers worked tirelessly to defuse a potentially explosive situation and uphold the law.' 'MINDLESS VIOLENCE' Mr Kelly said the officers had suffered 'for their courageous and professional interventions'. He added: 'This was mindless violence and thuggery. 'Officers were under great pressure but, to their credit, they restored order over a prolonged period of unrest. 'I have no doubt whatsoever that police officers – far too few because the service is starved of resources and officer numbers – prevented a pogrom with consequences too painful to contemplate. 'What we saw was totally mindless, unacceptable and feral. 'I wish to commend the men and women of the PSNI who undoubtedly saved lives last night. "I would appeal for calm, and request that there is no repeat of these shocking images in the town or the lawless acts of intimidation of anyone in our community." 'FELT FEAR' PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the force would have a significant operation in place over the coming days in case there was any repeat of the disturbances. Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said the attacks should be 'loudly condemned by all right thinking people'. Speaking at a press conference at Ballymena police station, he said: 'Any attempt to justify or explain it as something else is misplaced." He said that members of the minority ethnic community 'felt fear' and there will be a significant policing operation in the town in the coming days to reassure the community. 'All right-minded people should utterly condemn these actions and provide information and assistance to the PSNI so they can identify those who engaged in the various lawless acts of thuggery." Liam Kelly chairman of the Police Federation He said one arrest has been made and more will follow, as video and online footage is examined. The 29-year-old arrested has been charged with riotous behaviour, disorderly behaviour, attempted criminal damage and resisting police. He is due to before Ballymena Magistrates' Court on Thursday. Mr Henderson said: 'I would strongly urge anyone who was involved in yesterday's disorder to reflect long and hard about their actions, they will have consequences." VIOLENT SCENES Mr Henderson said that police officers from England and Wales will be brought to Northern Ireland if needed to help the PSNI in the wake of the Ballymena disorder. He said: 'Should I need any additionality, I'm absolutely assured that my colleagues in policing in England and Wales, the National Police Operation Centre, stand fast and ready to support should we need that support.' The senior officer said police did not have specific intelligence that there would be a repeat of the violent PLANNED VIGIL A PSNI spokesperson said: 'At around 7.30pm, a planned vigil gathered in the Galgorm Road area before making its way towards Larne Street, onto Wakehurt Road and then down Queen Street. 'The vigil was initially peaceful as it made its way towards the Clonavon Terrace area of Ballymena. 'Officers were present at the vigil to ensure an appropriate and proportionate policing response, due to the large number of people who had gathered in the area. 'A number of masked individuals then broke away from the vigil and began to build barricades, stockpiling missiles and attacking properties in the Clonavon Terrace area. 'Elements of the crowd then turned on to police and attacked officers with petrol bombs and masonry. 'This disorder was sustained and continued in the vicinity of Galgorm Street, Linenhall Street and Larne Road Link in the vicinity of the Braid.' COPS ATTACKED The statement added: 'Police officers came under sustained attack over a number of hours with multiple petrol bombs, fireworks, heavy masonry and bricks thrown in their direction by masked rioters. 'Fifteen officers were injured with some requiring hospital treatment. 'Two police vehicles were also damaged during the disorder. 'A number of homes and businesses were damaged with windows and doors smashed. Four houses were damaged by fire with three people evacuated. 'The attacks on these properties are being investigated as racially motivated hate attacks. 'Windows were also smashed of several business units in Galgorm Parks in the early hours. 'In total, six properties in Clonavon Terrace have sustained damage to windows and doors during the disorder." OTHER ARSON As part of ongoing inquiries, police are also investigating a report of arson at the Tobar Park area of Cullybackey in the early hours of Tuesday. Shortly after 12.20am, it was reported that a petrol bomb had been thrown at a vehicle in the area which set it alight. Damage was caused to a nearby property, with a woman and two children inside. 5 Cops and riot officers were among those deployed to the scene Credit: Pacemaker 5 Police stayed in the area overnight to monitor the situation Credit: Pacemaker

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store