Portlaoise resident William Delaney last seen five years ago

It has been five years since the last confirmed sighting of William Delaney, who lived in Portlaoise and is believed to have been murdered. 

The last confirmed sighting of Mr Delaney was at approximately 3pm on January 30, 2019 in Monasterevin Co Kildare where he called to visit a relative who lived in the area. The fifth anniversary of his last sighting was on Tuesday this week. 

The relation wasn’t at home but Mr Delaney, who was 56 at the time, was spotted outside the premises which is situated on the old Cork-Dublin Road directly opposite a local landmark known as the Hazel Hotel. 

On the morning he was last seen, Mr Delaney left Portlaoise General Hospital where he had been receiving treatment. It was established that he collected his welfare payments at Portlaoise Post Office after leaving the hospital. 

Mr Delaney, who is orginally from Tipperary, lived in Fielbrook in Portlaoise and has family in the area. He was reported missing by his family on March 6, 2019.

In June 2019 Gardaí received information that Mr Delaney had been killed and that his body had been buried at a location in Laois. A comprehensive search was conducted in the area surrounding the Rock of Dunamase but no remains were discovered.

Another search was conducted in Laois in 2021 without yielding results and one man was prosecuted for supplying false information to Gardaí about the location of Mr Delaney’s remains in May of 2023. 

The most recent search took place in August last year when Gardaí conducted a search at bogland in Kyletalesha in August 2023. It’s understood Gardaí conducted a very detailed search of a relatively small patch of land in response to information received. They used a mechanical digger to assist in the search. 

The area was located off the main N80 Portlaoise to Mountmellick Road near the council-run Kyletalesha landfill. 

Gardaí also combed the surrounding area for anything of evidential value during the operation which lasted a number of days but yielded no results. 

Mr Delaney's disappearance featured on RTE’s Crimecall in 2021 when Crimestoppers launched an appeal for information on the murder of William Delaney.

At the time, Gardaí said that they believe that people are withholding information on the murder of William Delaney. They hope that with the passing of time these people will now be able to come forward and offer whatever information they have. 

Gardaí want to speak to anyone who has any information on the disappearance and murder of William Delaney. They want to speak to anyone who saw William on the days leading up to his disappearance. 

"Were you in the Monasterevin area on the date in question and did you see William?" Gardaí asked. 

Gardaí Portlaoise Garda Station are investigating the murder and can be contacted on 057 867 4100.