Father in plea over missing son

Feb 14 2013

The father of a teenager missing for almost a month believes he is still alive, and said his family is "incomplete" without him.

David O'Halloran was last seen in the early hours of Friday January 18 after leaving a night out with friends in Stirling.

His father Alan McInnes fought back tears as he appealed for further information on the missing student. He said: "David has been missing for a month and every day we hope that he's found safe. We remain 100% sure he is alive and hope somebody has seen him or knows where he is. He may have injured himself and someone has helped him.

"Too many people have said he is no longer with us but we have to remain focused that he is alive and that for whatever reason he can't come home. We're looking for a person and not a body. We will continue to believe this until we're told otherwise by police."

After a long pause, Mr McInnes added: "David son, if you can see or hear this, please know that we miss you, we love you and we all need you home. Our family is incomplete without you."

The 18-year-old maths student had gone out with friends after finishing work. They had drinks at Stirling University accommodation before heading out into the city.

At around 1am, Mr O'Halloran was asked to leave a nightclub by a worker and got in a taxi to head home, Central Scotland Police said. He got out of the taxi before arriving at his student flat and said he would walk the rest of the way. He was then spotted by various drivers making his way towards Stirling University.

The last sighting police have of him is CCTV footage showing him crossing Henderson Street in nearby Bridge of Allan at around 2.20am. Police have used mountain rescue teams, trained dogs and a helicopter as part of their search and are now focusing on the River Forth and Carron with underwater diving teams.

Police, fire and underwater search crews were scouring the River Carron on Thursday. Superintendent Gordon Dawson said: "We're searching for David and as we've said to Alan and his family, our searches will continue to try and find David and bring him home. We're checking rivers and waters and it has been difficult because of the recent weather and the levels of some of the rivers, but we want to find David and bring him home to his mum and dad."

Mr O'Halloran is 5ft 5in, of slim build and has short brown hair with blond highlights. When last seen he was wearing a white T-shirt with a black and green checked shirt on top, black slim-fit jeans and black trainers.