Gardaí issue warning to parents about social media craze that encourages teenagers to go missing

The Canal walk is very popular with walkers and cyclists but all access has now been completely cut off by gardai.

placeholder image — The Canal walk is very popular with walkers and cyclists but all access has now been completely cut off by gardai.

Gardaí in the area have issued parents with a warning that teenagers may be voluntarily going missing as part of a new online craze that challenges them to break the 72-hour mark in terms of how long they can stay 'missing'.

Two teenagers were found in Kilcullen this morning after they were reported missing from Castlecomer in Kilkenny yesterday morning.

The boy and girl, aged 15 and 14, were reported missing when they failed to show up for secondary school yesterday morning, but they were located safe and sound in Kilcullen at around 6am this morning by local Gardaí.

They are thought to have got on a bus in Kilkenny yesterday morning and were headed towards Dublin. It has not been confirmed if they were taking part in the bizarre social media challenge.

Kilkenny-based KCLR radio station said that Kilkenny Gardaí are aware of a social media game that challenges youngsters to go missing for as long as possible.

Part of the challenge is to see how many media outlets will cover the 'missing persons' story and how many shares they can get.

The challenge was dubbed as the 'Game of 72' last year, and its popularity continues to rise in Ireland after originally beginning in the UK.