Police pull missing man’s car from Lough Erne to end 18-year mystery

Michael ‘Tony’ Lynch, 55, was originally from Magheraveely in Co Fermanagh but living in Clones, Co Monaghan when he was reported missing in 2002.

The Mitsubishi Gallant vehicle was discovered submerged in the Corradillar area of Lough Erne on Monday.

Police in the Republic or Ireland had carried out a number of searches in lakes south of the border in recent years but were directed to Corradillar after members of the public spotted an anomaly in the water in recent days.

Police divers entered the lake on Monday afternoon and have now recovered the car.

A fresh appeal for information on the father-of-four’s disappearance was launched in January this year.

The alarm was originally raised in January 2002 when Mr Lynch failed to turn up for his work as a digger driver for a drainage company.

Police said his wife Angela had visited his flat to find that all of his belonging were still there but there was no sign of her husband.

Yesterday, a PSNI spokeswoman said: “Police assisting gardaí investigating the disappearance of Michael ‘Tony’ Lynch from his home in Clones on January 6, 2002 have located a car in Lough Erne in the Corradillar area yesterday, Monday, May 18.

“The vehicle was located underwater by police divers and recovered for examination and is believed to be the Mitsubishi belonging to Mr Lynch who was reported missing 18 years ago.

“Enquiries are continuing, anyone with any information which may assist with our inquiries should contact police on 101.”

A Garda spokesman said: We will continue to work with police in Lisnaskea who are investigating the circumstances surrounding the discovery.”