The best friend of a dad-of-one who went missing almost 10 years ago is calling for his case to be upgraded to a murder probe. Damien Hipwell made a promise to Dean Roche’s dying mother, Geraldine, that he would never give up the fight for justice for her son. Dean was 31 when he was last seen alive on the evening of March 22, 2015, at Ballyfoyle, Co Kilkenny. Earlier this week, Gardaí announced a review of the unsolved case and began extensive searches at “sites of interest” in the Ballyfoyle area.
Damien, who believes his close pal met a violent end, stated, “What we want is to get this upgraded to a murder inquiry. That is what we are pushing for. Dean has been missing for almost 10 years now. It’s about time to explore that Dean was the victim of a crime.”
Dean’s loved ones believe reports of a car in the area at the time he vanished are central to the investigation. Dean crashed the car less than a mile from where he had just bought it. He was reportedly approached by a silver car, and someone shouted, “get in.” However, the car has never been traced, and nobody has come forward with information on either the vehicle or its occupants.
An item of clothing believed to have been worn by Dean was found in the area during the early days of the investigation. On Thursday and Friday, Gardaí conducted fresh searches in the Ballyfoyle area where Dean disappeared shortly after he crashed a car he’d just bought. Drones were deployed at the spot where Dean was last seen, and an inspector has been appointed to oversee the review.
### Renewed Efforts for Justice
Sites of interest will be “re-examined,” and a number of people will be re-interviewed to establish if anything was missed during the original probe and in a previous review. It is believed that the dad-of-one is dead, but a source said the investigation is not being upgraded to a murder inquiry at this stage.
Posting an update on the Missing Dean Facebook page, Damien said, “We had a very good meeting with the guards yesterday regarding some things in the case. They are carrying out very extensive searches… searches that haven’t been done properly in the past… with dogs and equipment. Mountain rescue is also involved. Please may they find something this time. We would love to get a call saying something has been found. Say a little prayer for Dean and Ger.”
Dean left his mother Geraldine’s home in Hebron Park, Kilkenny city, to buy a car, and that was the last time she saw him. Sadly, she died of cancer in 2017, and Dean’s pal Damien gave her his word that he would not rest until the case was solved. His mother believed he had been killed over a drug debt of a few hundred euros – but the not knowing weighed heavily on her.
### A Mother’s Dying Wish
Damien previously told this newspaper, “Dean’s mother went to her grave not knowing… she died of a broken heart. She wanted her son laid to rest beside her. The last thing she uttered to me in the hospital is ‘don’t forget about Dean.’ That is what’s driving us now.”
Dean had a drug addiction, but Damien said he “didn’t have a violent bone in his body” and would never start trouble. Anyone with information about Dean’s disappearance can contact Kilkenny Garda Station at 056 7775000 or the Garda confidential line at 1800 666111.
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