John Hardy was reported missing on December 18 after failing to catch a flight home from Spain where he had gone to visit friends three weeks earlier. His heartbroken family believe he was murdered
A huge search is underway for a missing dad-of-two who disappeared during a trip to Benidorm – as his devastated family pleaded for his return.
John Hardy, also known as John George, was reported missing on December 18 after failing to catch a flight home from Spain where he had gone to visit friends three weeks earlier. He was last in touch with his family on December 14 when he drove from Alicante to Benidorm.
The 37-year-old missed his flight home to spend Christmas with his children and his mobile phone has been switched off since, leaving his family and friends desperately seeking answers.
On Wednesday, a team from K9 Search and Rescue travelled to Alicante to help with the search for John. Posting on social media, a spokesperson for K9 Search & Rescue NI said: “Seven of our team and one K9 are on their way to Alicante, Spain from various airports, in the search for a missing man from Northern Ireland. We will join Evolsar colleagues from SAR Team, also with a K9. We hope to update you on our progress.”
In an emotional video posted on Facebook on New Year’s Day, John’s father, Billy, said: “Still no joy with John. This is going on too long. Please I beg you from the bottom of my heart, just give me him back and we’re out of here. “I’m staying until I get him. Please just give me my son. That’s all I want, just my son.”
Spanish police believe John was killed shortly after December 14. However, his family say they won’t rest until his body is recovered and brought back home to Belfast. And the missing man’s sister Courtney George, 31, who has also joined the search said she believes he was murdered. “I think he has been murdered and his body hidden somewhere. Those responsible need to tell us where he is,” she told Sunday Life. “I am in caves and mountains looking for my brother while they have run away. They need to tell us what they know.”
According to BelfastLive, Courtney said that her brother had been visiting a friend in Cabo Roig, near Alicante. “We want a body and we want to bring him home. We want a resting place for him, that’s all we want,” she said. “I don’t care about all the rest for now, my brother has two sons and my main focus is getting him home.”
Police in Northern Ireland have said they are also continuing to liaise with the family. Cops have “made an offer of assistance to police in Spain” as officers there continue to investigate John’s disappearance. In a statement issued on Tuesday, the PSNI said they “will assist with any local enquiries as requested” by Spanish investigators.
John’s family has launched a GoFundMe page to help raise money towards the search, which has already raised more than £23,000 so far.
