The family of West Belfast man John George have paid a heartbreaking tribute to the dad-of-two in the Spanish village where his body was found.
The 37-year-old travelled to Alicante at the beginning of December and was reported missing on December 18 after missing his flight back home to Belfast.
On Tuesday, January 7, John’s body was found in the Spanish village of Rojales, around 45 minutes south of Alicante. Today, January 9, his family left a floral tribute in the village, before they travel home tomorrow morning.
Read more: John George’s family solicitor provides update on police investigation
Read more: PSNI statement after missing man’s body recovered in Spain
Speaking in a video from the village, John’s dad, Billy George, said: “I’ve found my son, I’m bringing him back home to Twinbrook where he belongs. These flowers, I never thought in my life I would have to lay flowers in a foreign country for my son, John George.
“I will miss him every day, but in my heart, I have some great memories. John – you will never be forgotten. My heart is broken.
“Thank you very much to the people back home in Belfast.”
Earlier this week, Billy told the BBC he had both happy and sad tears at the news his son’s body had been found; ‘happy they found his body, but sad he will never see him again’.
“It has been horrendous, a nightmare,” he said. “Every morning was a disaster, getting up, ‘where do we go’, it’s a needle in a haystack but we came out to get John. We’ve got John, we’re bringing him back home where he belongs.
John George’s family pay tribute in the Spanish village of Rojales
(Image: Family Photo)
“Christmas Day, people were unwrapping their presents, having their Christmas dinner, cheering and laughing. Me and my wife, two daughters and a brother, standing in the middle of a field searching for their brother, crying, horrendous.
“I knew John was dead. John rung me six/seven times every day, doing my head in, every day he rung me.
“On the Sunday, I knew there was something wrong, I didn’t hear from him. I knew there was something up. He was a melter but he was my melter.”
Mr George said getting his son’s body home is now his priority. He added: “I’ll never be able to repay the people back home for what they have done for me and my family, the support of both communities, vigils, protests, donations, absolutely can never repay these people, and from the George family and the Hardy family, thank you very much.”
John George’s family leave a floral tribute in the Spanish village where his body was found
(Image: Family Photo)
Providing an update on the investigation, the family’s solicitor Kevin Winters told Belfast Live all eyes are now on the Spanish police, who are continuing to question a man who was arrested a short time after the body was discovered.
He said: “The family are sitting waiting and hoping that something comes of that [arrest], and in the meantime, Spanish police will not release any details, and we wouldn’t expect them to release any details of that detention.
“That would be the same here if it was happening in this jurisdiction where you’re not going to get any information, that’s just simply not going to happen, it’s not feasible.
“As I understand it, the body has been formally identified. There are autopsy reports, but the family are of the view that it can take anything up to 10 days to two weeks for John’s remains to be returned home.”
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