Investigating gardai in Nenagh, Co Tipperary, have been "very anxious" to speak to Zimbabwean national Silas Shayanewako, since he went missing in May.

Inspector John Lynagh, who is leading the investigation, said, "From monitoring the phone traffic to and from his phone, it looks as if Shayanewako is no longer in the jurisdiction. However we have not definitively ruled out that he is still in the jurisdiction having assumed another identity. From our experiences, it is not uncommon for some foreign nationals to assume another identity when they are being being pursued for questioning by the gardai."

Shayanewako has been missing since Friday 26 May.

He was last seen that morning in Kilruane, near Nenagh, where he was dropped off by a work colleague who gave him a lift home.

"We are anxious to speak to him in relation to an allegation of rape made by a minor from Cloughjordan. Shayanewako disappeared within a day or two of this allegation being made and we have had no luck in tracking him down, " Lynagh said.

The Sunday Tribune has learned that Shayanewako took his passport with him when he went missing and the gardai have informed Interpol of his disappearance.

Shayanewako, 33, is approximately 1.75m tall and of medium build, and his hair is styled in black dreadlocks.

He is understood to have worked as a wood-turner with a local crafts firm while living in the north Tipperary area. Gardai have confirmed that he did have family in Nenagh but was estranged from his partner.

"If anybody has any information about Shayanewako's whereabouts, we ask them to contact Nenagh garda station at 067-50450 immediately, " said Lynagh.