Fears for young mum of 3 kids missing from Hen night in Carlingford

Fears are growing for the safety of a young mother who has gone missing from a hen party.

Ruth Maguire (30), from Newcastle, Co Down, was one of 32 women on a hen party in the coastal town of Carlingford, Co Louth, when she disappeared at around midnight on Saturday.

Searches are being carried out in Carlingford Lough this morning for the mother of three children.

Moments after she was last seen, Ruth posted a photograph on social media with Carlingford Lough close by.

Her coat was found in the final bar she was seen with her friends.

She is described as being tall and slim with blonde hair.

When last seen she was wearing a black t-shirt saying 'Member of Irish Bride drinking team' and black jeans.

An Irish Coast Guard rescue helicopter, the Greenore Coast Guard, the Belfast Coastguard and Kilkeel Lifeboat have joined in the search around the coastal waters.

The group was on a hen party and was staying in a rented house in Carlingford.

The group left a bar in the busy town at around 11.30pm on Saturday night and headed home to the house they were staying - a walk of around five minutes.

However, within minutes they realised that Ruth was not with them.

The group, the majority of whom are from Belfast, began searching for her straight away but could not find her.

A doorman heard her say she might make her way home to Newcastle, but her partner and children had gone to Belfast for the night.

Her partner drove to their home in Newcastle from Belfast yesterday morning but she was not there.

Anybody with information on Ruth's whereabouts is asked to contact Gardaí in Carlingford on 042-9373102.