Search efforts to find a Belfast man who is currently missing in Spain will enter their third week.
John Hardy, also known as John George, was last in contact with his family on December 14, when he went from Alicante to Benidorm.
Mr Hardy's father, Billy George, traveled to Spain he said his son is dead.
On Friday, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) issued a new appeal for members of the public to share information as they assist Spanish police with their investigation.
It comes as a search and rescue team from Northern Ireland, who have been in Spain since New Year's Day, have completed their search.
K9 Search and Rescue NI, who has been in Spain since New Year's Day, must fly back home on Sunday (K9 Search & Rescue NI)
On Saturday afternoon, K9 Search and Rescue NIvolunteer canine search and rescue team, that their search was “coming to an end, for now, and unfortunately there is no result in finding missing Belfast man John George “.
ππππππ ππ¨π¨π¦ ππ’π’π’π§ππ, ππ«π¨π’π’π. Search efforts for our team are coming to an end, for now, unfortunately there are no results…
Posted by K9 Search & Rescue NI forward Saturday, January 4, 2025
Ryan Gray is a team leader at K9 Search and Rescue NI who have been assisting local people in their efforts to find Mr Hardy.
Mr Gray says this is the first time they have dealt with a missing person outside the UK.
He said: “We have been looking for missing people in England and Scotland before, but in terms of looking for a missing person from Northern Ireland abroad, this is the first time.”
Mr Gray told BBC News NI on Saturday night that the investigation was “very productive”.
βWe covered very large areas and the challenges that come with that…there's all kinds of terrain, turf, urban areas, water.
“But unfortunately we haven't found anything related to John.”
He said that the family, who asked the team for their help, are still in Spain with “many of John's friends” and that they are “still looking for him”.
“They are definitely going to continue to look for John.”
He said that the team was going to keep “very close contact” with John's family and said that the team “doesn't want to leave”.
“We came out here to find John and no…we will return if the family asks us to come back.”
'Medium areas to cover'
Seven members of the team and a victim recovery dog ββare helping with the search.
Earlier on Saturday Mr Gray said the weather was “hot, around 17 or 18 degrees” and although the team was managing, the search was covering “fairly large areas”.
Mr Gray said there could be logistical issues with such an endeavour, he said “a couple of people would have to ask for permission” and “to get our dog out here we had to use a Spanish airline, which including a few stops along the way, but we are always ready.”
Police application
(K9 Search & Rescue NI)
On Friday, a public portal opened for information related to Mr George's disappearance.
The PSNI has said it is “co-operating closely with the family of the missing man and other law enforcement agencies”.
Additionally, they said liaison officers have been appointed to support the family at this time.
“While the Spanish police must take the investigation forward, the Police Service of Northern Ireland has supported the police in Spain and will assist with any local inquiries as requested,” a source said. spoke from the PSNI.
The police have asked anyone who thinks they have information, which could help the Spanish investigation team, to contact them.
Any images or footage, including CCTV, mobile phone or dash cam footage, can be shared with the PSNI through Major Event Public Portaland that information will be forwarded to the Spanish Police.
The PSNI does not have jurisdiction over the investigation in Spain and assistance is being given to Northern Ireland at this time.
