Allison Morris
Today at 07:12
A suspect in the disappearance of Belfast man John George skipped bail in Spain and flew back to Northern Ireland on the same flight as the missing man’s partner, it can be revealed.
There were dramatic scenes as relatives of Mr George, missing and presumed murdered, came face to face with one of the men it is claimed is withholding information about the whereabouts of the father of two.
The Ryanair flight from Alicante to Belfast International was met on the runway by police.
However, as Spanish authorities had not contacted the PSNI or as yet requested a European Arrest Warrant for the suspect, he was able to walk out of the airport and into a waiting black jeep.
Police instead offered an escort to distressed relatives of the 37-year-old missing in the Alicante region of the Costa Blanca.
They had been sitting in the same row as the suspect for the three-hour flight.
Mr George’s father Billy met with Spanish police on Monday, saying he was disappointed at the lack of progress.
However, since then the investigation has moved at pace.
A man from the Czech Republic, who was seen in a video with Mr George after his arrival in Spain and prior to his disappearance, was arrested and questioned by detectives. He has been in contact with Mr George’s family, who have been in Spain searching for the Belfast man.
The Czech national was released on bail by Spanish police on Monday and continues to claim he has no knowledge of the whereabouts of the missing man.
He blamed another man for murdering the father of two and hiding his body.
It is understood that this main suspect is still in Spain, but has told friends he is planning to fly to Thailand.
On Saturday, at a property where John George was last seen, police held two younger men linked to the main suspect.
They were questioned but freed on police bail and told not to leave the country.
Items were also removed from the property for forensic examination, including drug paraphernalia.
One of those two men, in the company of a number of associates, left Spain on a Ryanair flight on Monday evening in breach of bail conditions.
Solicitor Kevin Winters, who is acting for the George family, contacted the PSNI to ask that they push for a European Arrest Warrant to detain the man in Northern Ireland. Mr Winters also asked for Interpol to be tasked to help trace suspects who have since left Spain.
The man with links to the main suspect boarded the flight just hours after Billy George said he feared those involved in his son’s disappearance were preparing to leave the jurisdiction.
Another associate of the main murder suspect has already fled to Thailand.
This man, who has a British passport but has lived in Alicante most of his life, travelled to Thailand ahead of being questioned by police.
John’s father Billy George thanked all those who helped with the search so far, but said the family require more help from the PSNI. “We need more official help to make sure these people aren’t just all allowed to leave Spain without telling us where John is,” he added.
A police spokesperson said that while the investigation is progressed by Spanish police, “the PSNI will assist with any local enquiries as requested by them”.
by Browns_right_foot
6 comments
Play with fire, you’ll get burned
I was genuinely interested in this case and was trying to follow the Facebook group. I honestly am still not sure what’s going on. Random members of the public are jumping on planes to look for his body (no knowledge of search + rescue it seems), the father is publicly threatening people and “John’s army” sound like an absolute parody.
Some of my friends work as crew for Ryanair out of Belfast and they say some of the flights to and from Spain are crazy.
Quite a few incidents of people being arrested and making emergency landings because of unruly passengers.
Not sure if anyone was on this flight though
As much as I genuinely do feel sorry for the family and they have acknowledged that “he was no angel”,at the end of the day he was a drug dealer and at some point had a friendship with a known abuser and scumbag(J Smyth)! It’s very unfortunate but the fact is if you live a certain way it’s more likely that these sinister things will happen to you and your family.
I hope he’s found for their sake but I just can’t help but think about other worthy causes that the general public could be putting this much energy into.
👍
So drug dealer as per court and media reported , thief and apparent wife beater and apparently fraud embezzlement etc goes to Spain goes under two different names ..and we are supposed to be in wonder and why and have sympathy when the absolute disgrace he has caused ..prob thought he would have a big deal and f over decent people ..you live by the sword die by the sword ..it’s like this ah poor chazzy ..a nounce .being dead doest change your character ..Jimmy saville …oh he is dead let’s pretend ..stop the crap ..if he was dealing which means vulnerable people get hooked spiral down he is responsible for a load of crap hope tax payers are not funding the reward..drug dealers drunk drivers loan sharks all in same bag
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