Missing Children's Website Launched in Ireland

CA Ireland proud to be involved in utilising Web-technology to bring relief to families of missing children

DUBLIN, IRELAND - 15 September 2004 -In conjunction with An Garda Síochána and the International Centre for Missing and Exploited Children (International Centre), Computer Associates (CA) will today support the launch of http://ie.missingkids.com/, a Website dedicated to reuniting missing children in Ireland with their families.

The launch, which takes place today at An Garda Headquarters, Phoenix Park, Dublin, marks a major development in the efforts of An Garda Síochána to tackle the issue of missing children in Ireland.

Using the Web-site, An Garda Síochána can select suitable cases to post photographs of missing children along with detailed descriptions of the individuals, and use age-progression technology to reveal how the children may look today.

CA is providing technology and support and hosting services to the Web-site as part of a global commitment to support the work of the International Centre and Missing Children’s Websites. The site in Ireland follows successful initiatives in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, also supported by CA.

“Fortunately most persons reported missing to An Garda Síochána are located, usually within a relatively short period of time,” said Superintendent Kieran Kenny of the Garda Missing Person Bureau, who will be heading up the Missing Children’s Website initiative in Ireland. “A missing child is a parent’s worst nightmare. The magnitude of the impact when someone goes missing affects not only the family and loved ones of the missing person, but the community as a whole. Anything we can do to resolve that situation more quickly is very much a priority for An Garda.”

“CA has been operating in Ireland for eighteen years now but we rarely get an opportunity to see technology have such a direct and beneficial impact on our local community,” adds Matt Brennan, Ireland country manager, Computer Associates who also attended the launch. “We are just proud to be involved.”

"The International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children is grateful for the cooperation of An Garda Síochána and Computer Associates. We are honored to have An Garda join this online network to help find and recover missing children," said International Centre Vice Chair, Mary Banotti. "Ireland is a key partner in this international effort that uses technology to reunite missing children with their families and to provide parents with prevention information," she continued.

The Website forms part of the Global Missing Children’s Network established by the International Centre to enable instant and global distribution of photographs and information on missing children. Including the Web-site in Ireland there are now 15 active Websites with over 3000 missing children cases posted.

About the International Centre
The International Centre for Missing & Exploited Children is the leading global service agency working to protect the world’s children from exploitation and abduction.

About CA
Computer Associates International, Inc. (NYSE:CA), the world’s largest management software company, delivers software and services across operations, security, storage, life cycle and service management to optimize the performance, reliability and efficiency of enterprise IT environments. CA has been present and operational in Ireland since 1986 and is a proud member of the local community with 27 staff employed at the Dublin headquarters in Embassy House, Ballsbridge.