The brother of a Belfast man missing in Spain is urging anyone with information to come forward as the search continues
Alicante: John George, also known as John Hardy, was on holiday in Alicante and last spoke to his family on December 14.
The 37-year-old was reported missing four days later when he didn’t catch his flight back to Northern Ireland.
His family fears he may have passed away.
Darren, his brother, is in Alicante with their parents, Billy and Sharon, and sisters, Courtney and Caitlin, along with about 50 friends and family from Northern Ireland.
K9 Search And Rescue NI, a volunteer dog team, has joined the search, working alongside the PSNI and local authorities.
Darren told the news agency that the support from everyone has been overwhelming.
He mentioned that the searches can be really frustrating since they’re not getting any answers, which leaves them feeling angry.
He believes someone knows where John is and urges them to come forward, even anonymously.
Members of the search team at work in Alicante (K9 Search and Rescue/PA)
Darren is determined to keep searching until they find John’s body, saying they won’t leave Spain without him.
John was a cheerful guy who would call at any hour, so when they didn’t hear from him for two days, they knew something was off.
He was a talented boxer in his youth, even an all-Ireland champion, but he struggled with addiction.
Darren shared that John’s young sons are asking for their dad, and he would never have missed Christmas with them.
Their parents are heartbroken, with their dad having suffered a heart attack and their mom two strokes, both just wanting their son back.
Darren recalled that John sounded distressed during their last phone call, and he urged him to come home right away.
He expressed his anger over people making cruel comments online about his brother during this tough time.
He also denied claims that their family is facing threats from paramilitaries back home.
The K9 team returned to Northern Ireland after a five-day search in Alicante.
Seven search technicians and their Labrador, Rocko, were part of the effort.
They were joined by a Portuguese search team and their dog, Lobo, to cover a variety of terrains.
The search involved a lot of planning, and they worked hard in the heat from dawn till dusk.
The team used their usual methods, even though the climate was new to them, which added some challenges.
The support from the Northern Irish community has been incredible, and it really helped the family feel less alone.
A PSNI spokesperson said they are working closely with the family and Spanish authorities to assist in the investigation.
They encourage anyone with information to reach out to them.
