UK experts back “misadventure” theory as Adrian search resumes

Monday 01 February 2016

UK experts are backing the police’s theory that missing Adrian Lynch disappeared through “misadventure” with no-one else being involved.

Police say that they are keeping an open mind as the search for the missing 20-year-old approaches its second month – but their view continues to be that Adrian was disoriented and hypothermic, and has probably died of exposure somewhere after seeking shelter.

The search for Adrian is due to resume today, with two specially trained victim recovery dogs and their handlers being brought back to assist.

The police say that they particularly want to go over some areas around Carrefour Selous – where Adrian was dropped off by a taxi just before midnight on 4 December – and between Handois and Dannemarche reservoirs nearby.

The team of detectives still working on the missing person inquiry say that those spots are “challenging areas with limited visibility”.

A police statement said: “Feedback received from UK colleagues has been encouraging and they are in agreement with the belief that Adrian’s disappearance is due to misadventure and not down to the involvement of a third party, although officers continue to maintain an open mind as they have done from the outset.

“They are in agreement with the investigative strategies and lines of enquiry being conducted, and have made a small number of minor suggestions.

“Peer review suggestions are of course very much welcomed, and indeed expected such is the purpose of such external reviews.”

Detectives have also once again issued an appeal to any potential witnesses who saw Adrian after he was dropped off at Carrefour Selous on the night that he disappeared.

They said: “The CCTV sighting of Adrian walking south past Thistlegrove at 02:17 is the last firm indication of his movements.

“Officers still want to hear from anyone who may have been travelling into, through or out of the general and wider area that night, and particularly after 02:17, even if nothing was seen or heard as such information can assist in eliminating areas, which can be very useful for analytical purposes.”