THE FAMILY of a boy whose "happy place" was stolen by thieves have made a public plea for it to be returned.
15-year-old Sean has Down's Syndrome and Autism, is non-verbal and is blind in one eye, and likes to spend time in his family's caravan which his mother says is his "happy place".
The caravan, while of sentimental importance to the family, is also full of items which belong to the teenager.
The caravan was stolen by callous thieves from a storage facility in Slane, County Meath, leaving Sean and his family devastated.
The family's caravan is a white 2014 Sterling Eccles Sport 586 touring caravan with six berths, registered number SGDST3ESWE0892114."It is Sean’s life, it is his happy place," his mother Fiona Sharkey Carroll told RTÉ News.
She said that her son tends to have trouble sleeping at home, but "he sleeps like a baby in his caravan.
"Everyone knows it is his happy place. It gives him independence. It is his life."
The family go on regular camping tips around the country, and had just visited Northern Ireland in the camper van just before the lockdown came into place.
Ms Sharkey Carroll had been promising her son a trip in the camper van as soon as the country opened up again-- and now "[caravan parks] are opening on the 29th of June and we have no caravan".
Their caravan wasn't the only one stolen from the area, and the family have been checking in with Gardaí about any caravans which have been recovered, but Sean's happy place is so far nowhere to be found.
Mr Sharkey Carroll appealed directly to the thieves' sense of decency, saying if they leave the caravan in a car park and get in touch she will retrieve it for her son with no questions asked.
"Please get in touch, we don’t care who took it, we want it back in one piece. Sean does not have a quality of life without this caravan," she said.
A Garda statement given to RTÉ News said:
"On the night of the 10-11th June caravans were stolen from a yard in Gernonstown, Slane. Thieves broke into the yard and caused criminal damage to other property at the location.
"If there was anyone in the area during the night and saw any suspicious activity or can help to get the property back, please give gardaí a call on 046-9021445."
The family's caravan is a white 2014 Sterling Eccles Sport 586 touring caravan with six berths, registered number SGDST3ESWE0892114.
Anyone who may be offered a second-hand caravan is urged to check if it could be Sean's "happy place".
