THE mother of a man missing in Donegal has said she will not give up the search for her son.

Cian Langelaan was last seen in the Horn Head area of Dunfanaghy on September 27 when he was dropped off by a taxi driver. Despite air, land and sea searches, no further trace of the 27-year-old has been found.

Anthea Langelaan returned to her home in the Isle of Wight just before Christmas after spending numerous weeks in Donegal while searches Cian, her only child, were taking place.

Speaking to the Donegal News, an emotional Anthea said her grief for her missing son is compounded by Covid restrictions.

“I have good days and bad days. I am back in the Isle of  and I feel so disconnected over here. I had plans to come back to Donegal but then Covid restrictions came into effect. The restrictions here were very light when I returned but now they are on Tier 4. Like everyone else, I am finding it hard.”

Anthea revealed she gave gardaí a piece of her son’s DNA.

“The gardaí have been very good. Early on in the investigation they would ring me if there was any news to let me know.

Before I left I gave them a DNA  sample. I spent an hour with them in Falcarragh station. The DNA will help if remains are found. They have assured me that if there are any sightings they will investigate.”

Since September 27 three extensive searches of the Horn Head area have been carried out by An Garda Síochána while further trawls involving members of the public, Finn Valley Flying Club, Search Team North West and the North West Mountaineering Club have gone ahead. Scuba divers have also looked in the waters around Dunfanaghy.

“When Cian first went missing he could have got away from the Horn Head area before word got out. Possibly he could have hopped on a bus from Dunfanaghy to go to Dublin, Galway or Glasgow.”

Anthea said what she is enduring is every mother’s worst nightmare. But, she has not given up hope on seeing her son again.

“The grief of losing someone to death is dreadful but you find a place in your heart to keep that person alive. This grief is completely different,” said Anthea.

“I have received lots of messages of support from so many people, parents and mothers in the same situation as I am in. I won’t give up looking, not just for Cian’s sake but for all the families of loved ones who have gone missing.

“I hope Cian will walk through my door one day. It’s a big question mark at the minute. I wake up every day with the same hope.

“The area where he went missing from was so thoroughly searched. There were three major air, sea and land searches.

He is not in Horn Head anymore. The other option is that he wanted to take his own life and that he did that,  but none of the searches have thrown up any evidence of that.

I feel very helpless. This is every mother’s worst nightmare”, said Anthea.

A Find Cian facebook page was set up in the wake of the young man’s disappearance.

Anthea said she has been buoyed by support from people in Donegal and further afield.

“I and others involved in the Find Cian Facebook page are trying to keep it going to ensure his photograph is still getting out there. It’s quite possible he does not want to be found. Cian had been staying with a friend in Falcarragh who is very upset by all of this.”

Anthea said her son was not involved in drugs or alcohol. She said she hopes to help the many missing people and homeless charities that have supported her when she is stronger.

Cian Langelaan as being 5’8” in height and of medium build. He has sandy coloured hair.

A spokesperson for An Garda Siochána told the Donegal News yesterday there is no update in the investigation.

“If anyone has any information in relation to the whereabouts of Cian we would ask them to please contact Milford Gardaí on 07491 53060 or call the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666 111.”