John George’s family paid a touching tribute in Spain before returning home, mourning their loss and cherishing memories of him.
Rojales: The family of John George from West Belfast recently paid a heartfelt tribute in the Spanish village where he was found. It’s such a tough situation for them. John, a dad of two, went missing after traveling to Alicante in early December. His family reported him missing when he didn’t make his flight back home on December 18.
Sadly, his body was discovered on January 7 in Rojales, which is about 45 minutes south of Alicante. Just two days later, his family visited the village to leave flowers and say their goodbyes before heading back home.
In a video shared from the village, John’s dad, Billy, expressed his heartbreak. He said, “I’ve found my son, and I’m bringing him back home to Twinbrook where he belongs.” It’s just so heartbreaking to think about laying flowers in a foreign country for your child.
He shared how much he would miss John but also cherished the great memories they had together. Billy thanked everyone back in Belfast for their support during this tough time.
Earlier in the week, he mentioned to the BBC that he felt both happy and sad about finding John’s body. It’s a mix of relief and sorrow, you know? He described the whole experience as a nightmare, saying every morning felt like a disaster as they searched for him.
Christmas was especially hard for the family. While others were celebrating, they were out searching for John, which must have been so painful. Billy knew something was wrong when he didn’t hear from John, who usually called him multiple times a day.
Now, bringing John’s body home is Billy’s main focus. He expressed immense gratitude for the support from the community, saying he could never repay them for all they’ve done.
As for the investigation, the family’s solicitor mentioned that Spanish police are still questioning a man who was arrested shortly after John’s body was found. They’re hoping for some answers soon, but it seems like it might take a while for everything to be sorted out.
