The family of a missing Belfast man who they believe has been murdered in Spain, say he was lured to the country with the promise of a holiday before being killed.
Desperate family members have been searching the area around Cabo Roig beach near Alicante in recent days where John George, also known as John Hardy, was last seen.
Family members of Mr George have said they believe he is dead and they are now looking to recover his body.
John George: timeline of disappearance of Belfast dad who family believe was murdered in Spain
They say they last heard from John on Saturday 14 December when they received a “distressed” phone call from the Belfast man.
Spanish police in Alicante say they are continuing to treat the case of John George as a disappearance and have not confirmed they have commenced a murder investigation.
John’s brother Darren is among a 50-strong crew which has travelled to the Cabo Roig beach area to search for his brother.
“This is all linked to back home. We were told as soon as we got out here that John had been killed, that he had been shot,” Darren told the Irish News.
“John was lured here on false information to meet friends on a holiday. John was lured over here to be shot dead.
“John was led over here, he thought he was coming over here for a few days and would be home after that. But John’s not coming home alive.
“They know if they shot him dead back in Belfast it would be more difficult for them to get away with it.
“But they don’t realise the support that John has back home. I don’t think they realised the amount of people that care about him.
“The police here are not taking the information we have given them about that seriously.
“When we went to the police station the other day, they told us to leave. They told us to get out and that was that.
“We are getting nowhere with the police services over here, there has been no searches, no dogs, no rescue teams. It’s as if it hasn’t happened.”
Darren said he and his family were living through “hell” while searching for John, who his family say had fallen into criminal circles but was “loved unconditionally”.
“I’m a normal person and live a normal life, I never in my life thought I would be in hell, but I am in hell right now,” Darren said.
“Never in a million years did I ever think my family, or anybody’s family, would sit in this situation.
“We need to get John back to give him a Christian burial. He lived for his kids and his family, he would have done anything for them.
“He was our go-to person if you were having a bad day. He’s loved unconditionally by his parents, his family, his friends, his children, his partner.”
A fundraiser launched to help support John’s family and friends in their search for him has now raised over £21,000, as they thanked those who had sent donations and well-wishes during his disappearance.
When contacted by the The Irish News, the Guardia Civil in Alicante said they were continuing to investigate John’s missing person case.
“The Guardia Civil in Alicante were informed of the disappearance of a 37-year-old Irish man on 21 December, by the name of John Hardy,” a statement said.
“From that moment our agents have been carrying out search efforts, and are unable to provide any information at this time.”
