The last picture of John Concannon on a bus before he got off at Lenamore Road
THE son of missing Derry pensioner John Concannon says he does not what he will do without his daddy this Christmas.
He is contemplating the first Christmas ever without his dad at the family table.
It is seven weeks since the 71-year-old man from the Galliagh was last seen getting on a bus.
Despite widespread and extensive searches in Derry and parts of Donegal, no trace of John has been found.
Son Edward just want his daddy back home and is hoping a fresh search will bring his back to his home at Altcar park.
John, aged 71, has dementia and hearing difficulties and went missing on Tuesday 10 November.
He was last seen getting off a bus in the Lenamore Road area.
As it turns out, John got on the wrong bus.
“It’s a bus that he never took before and with dementia coming just all of a sudden, he didn’t know where he was, he was confused and he didn’t know where to go,” says Edward.
“That’s why we’re finding it very hard to find him because he doesn’t know where he is and we don’t where he is and we’re trying to get into the mind of a man who’s not in his own mind.”
Mr Concannon said his father looked distressed when last seen, with his hands on his head, because he is partially deaf and is “scared of being knocked down” by traffic.
Edward Concannon wants his dad home for Christmas
“I just can’t stand to think about that, your own father’s going through a very scary time and we can do nothing to support him,” he said.
“The weather when he went missing was the worst of the year – it was raining every day and he’s anaemic, he feels the cold twice as much as we do.
“It’s really tough, I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.”
John Concannon is described as being 5ft 6in tall, of medium build and with grey hair.
He was wearing a black and grey beanie hat, a black coat, checked shirt and navy trousers when he went missing.
A Facebook page has been opened called a Foot Search for John Concannon which has been co-ordinating civilian searches.
Derry operations commander Chief Inspector Alan Hutton announced on Monday that new searches are to start for John.
He said the PSNI and Gardai have been working closely to try to find Mr Concannon and have carried out searches on land and waterways.
“We are also are very appreciative of the contributions of a civilian community search team that has assisted,” he said.
“The information we have at this stage suggests a search area on and close to the border at Lenamore Road and across into Dundreen and Drumadooey.
“We will be renewing the searches and will be using specialist search facilities.
“In the meantime, our thoughts are with the Concannon family. They are going through a lot of uncertainty at a time of year when families like to be together.”
Anyone who sees John or knows of his current whereabouts in either Derry on Donegal is asked to ring their local police station immediately.
Missing Galliagh pensioner John Concannon
