Helen and Joe Maughan at the press conference today
The father of missing Willie Maughan has revealed that life has been “hell” since his son went missing in April and he made a new emotional appeal for his son’s body to be returned.
Speaking on Newstalk Lunchtime this afternoon, Joe Maughan said he believes his son was “taken out” and he wants his son’s body back so he can have a “decent Christian burial”.
He said he realised the couple were missing on Tuesday April 14.
“My missus went out to collect them and they weren’t there. My wife rang me about 3.20pm that day and said ‘William is not here’. I was in work at the time and I thought nothing more of it. I thought he’d show up. She got a number off someone in the yard and I rang that number at 7pm that evening and I was told ‘Willie has gone to Spain’.”
Mr Maughan said that the phone number in question was not Willie’s phone but “another person’s phone from the Gormanstown area”.
Mr Maughan also spoke directly to the people he believes know something of Willie’s disappearance.
“I’m asking those people to come forward and clear your conscience. This is not something that you want to be taking with you because your conscience will never be clear until you make your information known to the Gardai.”
Read: Suspect in disappearance of couple taunts Gardai during search.
Mr Maughan said his family would have “closure” if he learned what happened to his son.
“It would mean I could bury the pair of them. If I got permission, I would bury the two of them in the same coffin. I would bury Willie with his brother in Bonnabriew and give him a proper burial."
He revealed that he has lost another son.
“I lost my eldest son when he was 30 to bacterial meningitis”
Mr Maughan was speaking in the wake of Gardai making a fresh appeal for their whereabouts this morning.
Gardai have said that they are "extremely concerned for the welfare of William (Willie) Maughan (34) and his girlfriend, Anastasija Varslavane (20), who have not been seen since 15 April, 2015.
Gardai at Ashbourne Co Meath have renewed their appeal this morning and said that "significant enquires have been made to date".
The officer in charge of this investigation Superintendent James Cannon said: "We are extremely concerned for the welfare and safety of both William and Anna.
"It is completely out of character for them to go missing in this fashion. I would urge anyone with information to contact the incident room at Ashbourne Garda Station on 01-8010600, the Garda Confidential Line 1800-666-111 or any Garda Station."
Anna is of Latvian origin, but living in Ireland for a number of years. She is 5’6” in height, of slim build, with long dark hair. She was last seen in the company of Mr Maughan on 15 April of this year in the Gormanston area of Co. Meath.
Willie is described as 5' 8”, of athletic build, with shaved head and green eyes.
Anna was known to frequent Balbriggan, Stamullen, Gormanston areas and was last known to be in the company of Willie Maughan. They were last seen between 2pm and 3pm in the Gormanston area of Co. Meath on Tuesday 14th April 2015.
Since their disappearance an incident room has been set up at Ashbourne Garda Station. Gardai say that significant enquiries have been made to date.
Via Independent.ie