Search parties recovered a body from the River Nore at Greensbridge on Wednesday last, believed to be that of missing local man Paddy ‘Kipper’ Phelan.
Paddy better known as ‘Kipper’ had been missing since Monday night when he was last seen walking along the Freshford Road at around 10pm.
Search parties made up of family, friends, and local gardaí took to the streets of Kilkenny in an effort to find the popular Kilkenny man who hailed from Dunamaggin. His body was taken from the river on Wednesday by the Kilkenny Sub Aqua team just before lunchtime.
His family had been growing increasingly concerned about his well-being, as he had not been seen in two days and he had been admitted to St Luke’s Hospital on Wednesday last week as a result of a cardiac complaint.
Mr Phelan, who was 68 years of age, was well known to all and had a distinctive white/grey, long beard. He was also known to wear a handkerchief on his head.
He was last seen walking towards Kilkenny on the Freshford Road near the dog track on Monday night having left St Luke’s Hospital.
His family had been visiting him in hospital on a daily basis since he had been admitted by ambulance over the weekend. He had been due to have had an angiogram in Dublin on Monday and the family did not see him that day. He had been nervous about the procedure and had voiced his concerns to his family who had tried to put his mind at ease.
However the procedure was put off until Tuesday and Mr Phelan was missing since Monday evening.
He is survived by his two sisters, Mai and Ann, and his brother Dick, along with many friends and neighbours.
The removal of the remains of Patrick Kipper Phelan will take place from Johnsons Funeral Home, John’s Green at 7.30 on Friday evening to St Leonards church in Dunnamaggin. Burial will take place after 11am mass on Saturday morning.
