GARDAI have appealed for help in tracing three teenage girls who vanished over the space of 18 days.

The three girls are not understood to know each other and their disappearances are not, at this stage, believed to be linked.

However, gardai are increasingly concerned about the welfare of Shanice Coffey (16), Isabel Tache (16) and Shannon Cunningham (16) who went missing between September 24 and October 12.

Shanice was last seen at 8pm on September 24 on Patrick Street in Cork city centre. All efforts to contact her have so far failed.

Gardai have appealed for anyone who may have seen her to contact them.

When last seen, Shanice was wearing blue denim shorts and a black, casual top. She is described as 5ft 3in, of medium build and with blue eyes and long brown hair.

It is believed that she was in the company of others when last seen on Patrick Street.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Angelsea Street Garda Station at (021) 4522000 or the Garda Confidential Line (1800) 666111. A second teen -- Shannon Cunningham -- is believed to still be in the greater Cork area.

Shannon is originally from Drogheda, Co Louth, but has been living in Cork over recent months.

She is 5ft 2in tall, of medium build and has distinctive green eyes, a pale complexion and wears her short brown hair in a spiked style.

She was wearing a black hoodie and navy jeans and was last seen on October 12.

Concerns

The latest disappearance involves Isabel Tache who vanished on October 8, wearing blue jeans, a white T-shirt top, a white denim jacket and black boots when she was last seen.

Mayfield Gardai are co-ordinating the search effort for Isabel, who is 5ft 5in, with brown eyes and short black hair.

One garda told the Herald: "These are very young girls and there are concerns about their welfare and well-being. There are people out there who know where they are and we would appeal to them to help us."

hnews@herald.ie