A Co Armagh man who believes his son was murdered by the IRA when he disappeared two months ago last night spoke of his family's despair at not knowing what has happened to him.
Despite numerous public appeals for information and a police investigation on both sides of the border, Mark O'Connor said he still does not definitely know what has become of his son Gareth (24), who was last seen on May 11.
"We're still asking people to help us find out what happened to Gareth," Mr O'Connor said.
"We cry but there's nothing much we can do about it. We feel pretty helpless but we can't think of anything else.
"As a family, we are trying to get on as best as we can but it's hard when nobody is coming forward to tell us where we can find Gareth."
Gareth O'Connor, a father of boys aged five and 15 months, was last seen driving his Volkswagen Golf through the south Armagh border village of Newtownhamilton on Sunday May 11.
He was travelling to Dundalk Garda station where he was to report as part of bail conditions imposed after he was charged in the Republic with membership of the Real IRA.
His family believe he was abducted by members of the Provisional IRA after a dispute involving a collapsed pyramid investment scheme.
Despite extensive house to house searches by police on both sides of the border, neither Mr O'Connor nor his car have ever been found.
Days after his disappearance, Catholic primate of all-Ireland Archbishop Sean Brady took the unusual step of appealing for Mr O'Connor's safe return.
The O'Connor family have also appealed to the Pope and the United States government for help.
Although it is more than eight weeks since Mr O'Connor disappeared, Detective Inspector Keith Agnew said a "full team of detectives" was involved in the investigation.
"This started as a missing person investigation but we've upgraded the inquiry to a suspected murder team," he said.
"We are following up specific lines of inquiry and are talking to everybody we can."
Three people have been questioned in connection with Mr O'Connor's disappearance, though no one has been charged.
"We would appeal to any witnesses out there who have any knowledge of Gareth O'Connor's whereabouts or his disappearance to get in touch with us," Mr Agnew said.
"Our big concern is with the family and what they are going through.
"They are left in limbo, not knowing what has happened to Gareth. Your heart just goes out to them."
Mr Agnew added that the investigation team had been liasing closely with their Garda counterparts.
"We've been getting quite a bit of assistance from them," he said.
"Given Mr O'Connor's connections and where he was going, the Garda have been very helpful."
