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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Conor Gogarty & Patrick Edrich & Graeme Murray

'Alarm bells rang' after daughter missed parents' weekly chat before nightmare began

Parents heartbroken at their daughter's disappearance say "alarm bells rang" when she missed their weekly chat.

Catrin Maguire vanished almost a year ago and parents Gerry and Wendy have endured a "living nightmare" as the anniversary of her going missing nears.

The 22-year-old student, had no known mental health issues, vanished on November 15 last year. She had joined friends two days before her disappearance for a pizza and film night.

A student at Bangor University, she was was expected to meet one of those friends in the city on the Monday to sign a flat tenancy but she never turned up.

The then-22-year-old, who had no known mental health issues, went missing on November 15 last year (Media Wales)

Catrin instead bought a return ticket to Holyhead, on Anglesey where her family live, and was reportedly last seen at around 1.18pm walking near the island's RSPB South Stack Café.

Her parents said their last conversation was "totally positive", with Catrin excited about her future plans of enrolling on a master's course and going travelling.

The parents told Wales Online : "On Tuesday November 16, 2021, instead of having our dedicated weekly chat with Catrin, at 7.30pm the phone rang and it wasn’t Catrin.

"It was her flatmate asking if Catrin was with us as she hadn’t seen Catrin for a couple of days and Catrin had failed to turn up for a pre-arranged signing for a new tenancy agreement.

Catrin was reportedly last seen at 1.18pm walking near the RSPB South Stack Cafe in Anglesey (Media Wales)

"Alarm bells rang instantly as this is not normal behaviour for Catrin and we just knew something was wrong."

Her parents and younger brother Ciaran have since tirelessly searched for her, distributing countless flyers around north Wales and speaking to students at her university.

Gerry, 51, said it took him and Wendy more than six months to go back to work after their daughter's disappearance.

He and his wife added: "Each day since Catrin was reported missing has made day-to-day life extremely difficult for her family.

"The emotional toll is ongoing. Twelve months later and we still do not have any answers to those questions that were asked a year ago.

"Her cat misses her and will scratch on her bedroom door to curl up with her teddy bears on the bed.

"We have some really good friends and family that have been with us throughout the past year supporting us during a living nightmare. Not knowing where Catrin is, who she may be with, is heartbreaking."

Catrin Maguire was expected to meet a friend to sign a flat tenancy, but she never turned up (Media Wales)

Catrin was doing a health and social care course and wanted to do a master's in the same subject for a career helping vulnerable youths. Gerry said she was "very caring" and "hated to see wrong done to anyone".

Gerry added: "Catrin's course tutor said she was quiet and kept herself to herself but she was up to date with her assignments. She had passed her first two years. I'd spoken to her GP and the only medical issue she had was asthma. No flags had been raised."

Catrin is around 5ft 5ins tall with a slim build. Her parents, who have vowed never to give up on their search, are urging anyone with information to call North Wales Police on 101 quoting reference Z167766.

They thanked the Royal National Lifeboat Institution, the Môn-SAR search and rescue team, and "the community of Holyhead and beyond who came to help in our hour of need".

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