THE FAMILY OF AN IRISHMAN missing in Amsterdam since the early hours of Wednesday, 13 April, has spoken of their heartache over his disappearance.

Paul Nolan Miralles, 36, is originally from Ireland but has been living in Amsterdam for the past ten years.

He was last seen heading home after a night out in the city centre with friends, and it is feared he may have fallen into a canal.

The search today centred on the canal area near the Hard Rock Café where Nolan Miralles works and involved sniffer dogs, sonar equipment and police divers.

“We’re in bits, it’s been an excruciating day,” Anne Ravanona told TheJournal.ie this evening.

Ravanona said that she, her mother and her brother have been asked to provide DNA samples in case a body is not discovered for a long time.

Earlier today, a sonar search appeared to have found something. However, Ravanona said that what had shown up turned out to be a tree stump when the divers searched that spot.

Dutch police are now focusing on the missing man’s phone records to determine where he last was when he used his phone. They are also closely examining CCTV footage from the area and are requesting images from more cameras as they attempt to narrow down his movements.

Nolan Miralles’ family is due to appear in a Dutch version of the Crimeline programme later this week.

Ravanona had earlier said that the family has not given up hope, but it fears the worst outcome of the search for her brother.

Additional reporting by Hugh O’Connell