The family of John George returns to Belfast after his tragic death in Spain, receiving heartfelt support from the community.
Belfast: It’s been a tough time for the George family. They just returned home after finding out that John, their son, was found dead in Spain. John had been on holiday in Alicante and went missing last month. His dad, Billy, said he wouldn’t have come back if they hadn’t found John’s body.
John, a 37-year-old father of two, last spoke to his family on December 14. When he didn’t show up for his flight back to Northern Ireland, they reported him missing just four days later. His family and friends, about 50 of them, were all hands on deck, searching for him.
This week, Spanish police discovered a body they believe is John’s. When the family landed at Belfast International Airport, they were met with a warm welcome from supporters who clapped and hugged them.
Billy George thanked everyone for their support, saying they were determined to bring John home. The crowd cheered and chanted “justice for John,” which really touched the family.
He expressed how grateful they were, saying, “I don’t know how we can ever repay all these people.” It’s been a long three and a half weeks for them, and they were relentless in their search.
Billy shared that he would have kept searching every day if they hadn’t found John. He walked for hours, even when it got dark, just wanting to find his son. Now, their focus is on bringing John’s body back home for a proper burial.
“It’s never going to be the same without John, but at least he’ll be home in Belfast where he belongs,” he said, hoping for justice for his son.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland has been working with Spanish authorities on the investigation and had been asking for information after John went missing. They confirmed they were informed about the body found in Spain earlier this week.
Anyone with photos or footage that could help the investigation can share it with the PSNI through their Major Incident Public Portal.
You can view photos of the George family arriving home to Belfast in the below gallery.
