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without a trace

''We're broken, devastated': 10 years on and still no clues in Tyrone's man disappearance

Gerard Conway was 32 when he went missing from the Cookstown area.

PSNI PSNI

POLICE IN NORTHERN IRELAND are making a renewed appeal for information about the whereabouts of Gerard Conway on the tenth anniversary of his disappearance.

Gerard, who was 32 when he want missing, was last seen in the Cookstown area at the end of January 2007. He was reported missing a short time later, however despite extensive enquiries by police over a number of years, no clues as to his whereabouts have been discovered.

In a statement, his family said the have been left “distressed, broken and devastated by the disappearance of our son, brother and father”.

“It has been a very long 10 years without Gerard. We miss him dearly and not a day goes by that we do not think about him. It is hard to put into words how we have coped over the past 10 years as we fear something untoward may have happened to Gerard,” his family said.

We are unable to gain closure as we have no answers and too many questions as to what might have happened to Gerard. Until we find Gerard or recover his remains it is simply impossible for us to properly commence the grieving process.

We feel that somebody must know what happened to Gerard, and where he is. We urge whoever it is to please, please come forward with that vital information that may help the police with their investigations to help solve Gerard’s disappearance.

The missing man is described as:

  • 6 feet tall
  • Of medium build
  • With short, dark brown hair
  • And blue eyes

He has a scar running through his right eyebrow and another above his right eye.

The search for the 32-year-old extended to the Republic of Ireland and to England. There is CCTV footage of him at a bank in Cookstown on 25 January and there were several sightings by people who knew him in late January and early February.

“In the immediate aftermath of Gerard’s disappearance, there were unconfirmed sightings in the Magherafelt, Toome and Ballymena areas. Widespread search activity of the countryside around Cookstown, using dogs and aircraft, was unsuccessful,” commented Detective Chief Inspector Gareth Talbot, from Serious Crime Branch..

“Because of the family’s connections with the Republic, we have worked with An Garda Siochana to extend the appeal there, but, sadly, to no avail.”

“After ten years we still have no definite leads as to what has become of Gerard and we continue to appeal for information.”

Gerard’s disappearance has been hearbreaking for his family and friends. Their own substantial efforts to locate Gerard have been commendable and they deserve to know what has happened to him.

“Anyone with information, no matter how small, is asked to contact the police by calling 101. Alternatively, people can provide information anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.”

Read: 5,600 enquiries, 20,000 hours of CCTV footage – Garda Adrian Donohoe’s murder is still unsolved>

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