Missing man’s family plead for information

Missing man’s family plead for information

30 January 2019

A NEWCASTLE family is desperate to hear word from their 39 year-old brother who has been missing in Amsterdam for the last 18 days.

There has been no word or sighting of Connor Murphy since Saturday, January 12.

His sisters, Rebecca and Alison, and his brother, Matthew, are becoming increasingly worried about his whereabouts.

Connor’s friends and family in Newcastle and Amsterdam have rallied around a campaign to help try and locate him.

While raised in Newcastle, Connor has worked in the Dutch capital as a chef for the last three years.

Connor’s siblings travelled to Amsterdam in order to try and locate him by posting flyers and contacting hospitals and homeless shelters.

Police in Amsterdam have also issued a missing person appeal and helped in the search by checking CCTV across the city. 

However, his sisters have spoken of their distress and of “being worried sick” at his disappearance.

In a video post for the Lucie Blackman Trust, which helps British people missing seas, Rebecca urged: “Connor, we want you to get in touch to let us know you’re OK, because we all love you and we miss you. Everybody is looking for you and we need you home now.”

Alison added: “We would appeal to anyone who has any information no matter how small to contact the Lucie Blackman Trust.”

His family know that he went to visit a friend in the Nieuwmarkt area and was last seen leaving the district between 1am and 2am on Sunday, January 13.

Alison said: “Connor is very well known in the area where he disappeared, so we have been visiting places he would have went regularly to see if people have seen or heard anything.

“His friends have been amazing and did a lot of groundwork before we came out to liaise directly with the police.”

Connor was last in touch with Rebecca on January 11 and spoke of getting his passport sorted for coming home for her impending wedding. 

South Down MLA Colin McGrath confirmed last night that he would be trying to work with the relevant authorities in Amsterdam to try and help.

He said: “The family must be going through hell at the moment as they await news of the whereabouts of their son and brother. 

“The lack of information or urgency by the authorities in Amsterdam is not helping the family at this time. As with other cases of missing persons, the lack of a prescribed crime can inhibit the actions taken by the police but the family are desperate for any news. 

“I would ask any local people with contacts in Amsterdam to check with them if they have seen or heard of Conor as local knowledge can often trump official investigations. 

“I hope Conor is found safe and well soon and this nightmare period for the family is brought to a close.”

The Lucie Blackman Trust can be contacted on 0800 0988484 or by email at ops@lbtrust.org.