Spanish police investigating the disappearance of an Irish girl in the Costa del Sol have organised a major search of the area beginning tomorrow.
15-year-old Amy Fitzpatrick, who is originally from Donaghmede in Dublin, disappeared on New Year's Day while she was walking home from a friend's house in Fuengirola.
She had not been in school in Spain since the summer of 2006 and the school principal today said that Amy was not happy there and found the lessons difficult.
13-year-old Ashley Rose, who was the last person to see her, said on a number of occasions Amy and other young girls had been offered lifts by strangers in the area.
Her school friends in Spain have been handing out leaflets with Amy's photograph and description seeking information and offering a reward.
Amy Fitzpatrick went to Spain three years ago and lives there now with her mother, brother and stepfather.
Her father Christopher yesterday issued a statement from his home in Dublin, where the family appealed for anyone who may be holding Amy to let her go and asked her to get to a phone, if possible, and contact gardaí or Spanish police.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has been in contact with Amy's family and has offered all possible consular assistance.
