Family in renewed appeal over pensioner missing for two years

Michael Conboy, 81, of Saxcourt, Hull, last spoke to his sister Ellen King in a telephone call at 10.30pm on Sunday, April 19, 2009, and despite extensive searches by police has not been seen or heard of since.

On the second anniversary of his disappearance the family and police are again appealing for information.

Mr Conboy’s nephew Paul Robinson asked people to have a look at any outhouses or allotments that they had not visited for some time.

He said: “It’s just asking people if they have an allotment, a place where they haven’t been for a while, especially now the weather is improving if they can have a look, anywhere that’s overgrown, maybe a garage.

“Credit is due to the police, they’ve done a comprehensive search of the area and used their resources, the police helicopter and divers and a charity came up from down south and used dogs but they drew a blank as well.

“It sounds cliched but you feel that he has disappeared off the face of the earth. It is not possible of course – at the end of the day he has to be somewhere.”

Mr Conboy has three sisters, Nora, Ellen and Sheila, and a brother, James.

Mr Robinson said: “They all speak every day on the phone a couple of times a day to make sure they are all right. They have all lived very close to each other all their lives, and they obviously miss that daily contact.

“It’s upsetting for all of us, but it is more upsetting for them. They have been very strong but obviously they are hurting a lot.”

Mr Conboy’s case is highly unusual – last year all 1,399 people reported missing to Humberside Police were found.

Mr Robinson said the family didn’t know what they could do next. He said: “It’s basically a vicious circle we are in. It is very frustrating; it is officially two years now but it seems like last week, because it’s an ongoing thing and the problem you have is keeping people aware he is still missing.

“Every time the phone rings half of you wants it to be news about him and the other half is dreading it in case it is bad news, more than anything it is the not knowing.”

Mr Conboy may have been wearing glasses and usually dressed smartly in a shirt, tie and trousers. His family say he was “incredibly fit for his age” and would often go into town on the bus to meet friends and have a chat over a pint.

A few weeks before he went missing he was treated in hospital for a viral infection and it appeared to have left him confused.

Missing persons officer Det Con Alex Longbone said: “Since his disappearance Humberside Police have done everything possible to locate Michael including searching various locations across Hull, deployed several specialist police units, used the services of Cantech Volunteer Search Dogs, delivered in excess of 10,000 leaflets to residential addresses within the city and carried out both regional and national media appeals.

“Despite this thorough investigation he still has not been found. We are again asking the public to think back two years to anything no matter how small that may assist us in finding him.”