Northern Ireland

Gerard Conway: Fresh appeal on tenth anniversary of disappearance

A CCTV image of Gerard Conway in a bank in Cookstown, Co Tyrone, in January 2007. Picture from PSNI
A CCTV image of Gerard Conway in a bank in Cookstown, Co Tyrone, in January 2007. Picture from PSNI A CCTV image of Gerard Conway in a bank in Cookstown, Co Tyrone, in January 2007. Picture from PSNI

THE family of missing Co Tyrone man Gerard Conway have made a fresh appeal for information on the tenth anniversary of his disappearance.

Mr Conway, then aged 32, was last seen in Cookstown on January 25 2007 and was reported missing on February 13 of that year.

Despite extensive searches around the town and further enquiries in the Republic and England, he has never been found.

His family said they fear he may have been killed and have appealed for information.

His mother Mary, brother Patrick, sisters Paula, Joanne and Shauna and Mr Conway's daughter Dara, now aged 20, said they are desperate for news.

Mrs Conway, who lives in Dublin, told The Irish News: "Someone out there knows something. They might not think that knowledge is right but it could be relevant."

In a statement the Conway family said they had been left "distressed, broken and devastated by the disappearance of our son, brother and father".

"It is hard to put into words how we have coped over the past 10 years as we fear something untoward happened to Gerard," it read.

"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."

They said none of the information they had so far received had led "police to the whereabouts of Gerard".

"We appreciate it may seem like a long time but if there is anything however apparently insignificant, anything that appeared in any way suspicious, we need to hear from you," they said.

Detective Chief Inspector Gareth Talbot said police have CCTV footage of Mr Conway at a bank in Cookstown on January 25 2007. He said people who knew him claimed to have seen him in early February 2007.

"After ten years we still have no definite leads as to what has become of Gerard and we continue to appeal for information," he said.

He added: "Gerard’s disappearance has been heart-breaking 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," he said.

Mr Conway is 6ft and of medium build, with short brown hair, blue eyes and two facial scars - one through his right eyebrow and another above his right eye.

Anyone with information is asked to contact police on 101.