John Burke has been missing for five months after disappearing in Cork City during the summer.
His mother, Winnie Burke, has pleaded for his safe return after he was last seen in a homeless shelter back in June.
The missing man is celebrating his 21st birthday birthday and Winnie is full of anguish and just wants to know what's happened to her son.
She says that the loss isn't getting any easier and she is pleading with him to pick up the phone and make contact.
"He's 21 today, yeah
"Everyday gets harder and I just want to know if he is okay, if he is alright
"We just need to know if he is alright," she told Neil Prendeville on Cork's Red FM.
John has been active on Facebook, used his bankcard or collected his disability since he was last seen in June.
Winnie- a mother of nine- struggles to sleep as she fears for the worst.
"It is gone five months now and it is so hard to get to bed and not know where he is
"It doesn't matter what age he is, he is still my child," she added.
