Family of missing Garvagh man still at a loss

It was in October that Kenneth Thompson (pictured) disappeared and since then his family have no idea what happened to their father.

Kenneth Thompson disappeared on Saturday, October 17 last year and it is believed that he drove to Ballycastle to go for a walk.

A search operation, involving the police, HM Coastguard and a Royal Navy helicopter, swung into action in a bid to find Mr Thompson.

Later, police appealed for the driver of a red car parked at the Cushendall Road in Ballycastle to come forward as it was believed that he may have spoken to Mr Thompson.

The driver appeared to be talking to a man described as tall, well built, about 60 years old, with white hair, who was standing at the passenger side of the car - the description matched that of Mr Thompson.

At the time Mr Thompson's son Andy told the Times: "The first time we realised something was wrong was when he missed church on Sunday because he would never have done that.

"We started to look for him and that next evening his car was found at Ballycastle Harbour. He was seen in Portrush on Saturday and he would have been quite well know there as he was always going down to Portrush.

"Since that we have just drawn a blank.

"My father was in good form and had just booked tickets to go to Australia to see his sister.

"It's just not knowing that is so difficult.

"You hear about this happening to other people but you never think it will happen to you. It's just all totally unreal."

In the intervening, two months there has been no further information on Mr Thompson's whereabouts.

Andy Thompson told the Times this week: "We have had no news at all over Christmas.

"It's very difficult because you just have to carry on with life, keep going to work, keep getting on with things.

"The simple answer is that we just don't know what happened to him.

"the police have done as much as they can do. There are still some posters up around the area but that's about as far as we can go."

Mr Thompson is described as 6ft 2in, of slim build, with short white hair, and when last seen was wearing a black fleece jacket with a National Geographic motif and a yellow collar, green trousers, and a flat tweed cap.

Anyone who may still have any information is asked to contact police at Coleraine.The telephone number to ring is 0845 600 8000.