Pressing hunt for Irishman lacking after shifting to America as household develop more and more involved for security

THE family of an Irishman who has been missing abroad for almost a week are becoming increasingly concerned for his safety.

Galway man James Gleeson has been missing from California, in the USA, since Thursday, September 28.

James has been missing from the Parkside area of San Fran since September 28

The 35-year-old was last seen five days ago in the Parkside area of San Francisco wearing a maroon flannel jumper, a high-vis vest and carrying a backpack.

He has been described by worried family as of a slim build, approximately 6ft 1in with light brown hair and brown eyes.

James, who is originally from Dunmore, recently moved to San Francisco in California.

In the days since he has gone missing, family have become increasingly concerned about his whereabouts.

One person said: “Please God you will be found safe and well.”

Another added: “Please be found safe and well James. If anyone knows people over there please keep a massive look out.”

Police in the US have issued an appeal for his whereabouts and a notice reads: “Missing: James Gleeson, last seen in the Parkside/Sunset area near Sloat.

“Wearing a maroon checkered flannel jumper with a reflective vest carrying a backpack. Irish male, ‘6″1, light brown hair, brown eyes, 35 years.

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“If seen please contact us on his whereabouts (914) 294-8949.”

Separately, the devastated mum of a teenager missing for nine days has appealed to the public to help find her son, saying: “I want my boy back.”

Worried Kelly Smith urged anyone with information about the whereabouts of her 18-year-old son Josh Markey to contact her or the police immediately. 

She told in a poignant Facebook post that she has suffered nothing but torment and despair over the past week after Josh vanished off the face of the earth from the Rathmullen Park housing estate in Drogheda.

Gardai have categorised his disappearance as “high risk” and believe his life could be in danger.

There are unconfirmed reports that he may have been abducted.

‘HEART OF GOLD’

The heartbroken mother said: “All these days gone and not one single person has heard or seen my son. 

“Someone knows something. He didn’t just walk into the middle of Rathmullen and a UFO came down and beamed him up Scottie.

“He was no angel, far from it, and was easily led but underneath it all he had a heart of gold.

“Someone knows something, I want my boy back.

“I am begging anyone that knows anything about my son or his whereabouts whether it is good or bad news, please tell me.”

TEXT ALERT

Drogheda Sinn Fein TD Imelda Munster has called on anyone with information about Josh to use the new garda confidential text alert service See Something, Say Something, to pass on whatever they know.

They can free text DROGHEDA and send their message to 50555.

She said: “If they don’t want to contact the gardai directly they can use this text line to pass on information and no one will know where it came from.

“Your number is scrambled so it will not show up. 

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“This is another avenue for people to pass on information if they don’t want to have to deal with the gardai themselves.

“The fact no one has heard from Josh is extremely worrying.”