‘Daddy, please come home’ - daughter’s plea to missing cyclist

THE family of a Kells man missing since New Years Day, have made an emotional new plea for information on his whereabouts.

Cyclist Samuel Campbell, 49, left his home in the village of Kells on the afternoon of Sunday, January 1 and has been missing ever since.

His bicycle was spotted on a beach near Glenarm by a woman passing on a bus on the evening of Tuesday, January 3.

A press conference was held on Monday morning to make a fresh bid for any information on Mr Campbell’s whereabouts.

Mr Campbell’s brother and daughter both made a emotional pleas for him to come home, daughter Samantha said: “It’s been three months since daddy went missing, words can not describe how we as a family are feeling, daddy is a huge part of all our lives.

“With this appeal we are trying to keep up the awareness that he is still missing and appealing that if anyone has any information no matter how small they think it is, please contact the police. And Daddy if you are listening to this please come home, you know how much you mean to all of us and we miss you so much.”

David Campbell said that it had been a very difficult time for the family and also appealed for his brother to return.

He said: “We would ask if anyone thinks they have seen Sam to make contact with the PSNI. Sam if you are watching this appeal please make contact with us and whatever is wrong we can sort it out.

“We would like to thank all our family and friends for their support over the last three months. Also the Coastguard and the PSNI for all the searching they have done. It has been a very difficult time for us all, Laverne, Chris, Samantha, Jason, grandson Troy, Henry, Hugh, Stephen and myself and our family circles.

“We know that Sam left home on New Years Day at approximately 2pm. He was seen on the Tully Road by his wife Laverne and mother in law Maeve.

“We also received CCTV footage from the Half Way House near Broughshane showing Sam cycling past at approximately 2.50pm.

“We would appeal to anyone who saw Sam between the Half Way House and Glenarm to contact the PSNI with any information they have.”

Detective Inspector Bob Blemmings said: “The investigation into the disappearance of Samuel is ongoing.

“The past three months have been a very difficult time for Samuel’s family and friends.

“Today we are renewing our appeal for anyone with any information – no matter how insignificant – to come forward and help us with our inquiries. We would also appeal for anyone who was cycling in the area and wearing similar clothing to Mr. Campbell around the time of his disappearance, to contact us so they can be eliminated from our inquiry.

“Over the course of the last three months we have been working with our colleagues in the coastguard and RLNI, Police Air Support and Sky Watch Civil Air Patrol in searching the coastline. We would like to take this opportunity to thank all of the agencies involved and we are very grateful to the local community for their assistance and their response so far during the investigation.

Mr Blemmings said Mr Campbell left his home on the Kilgad Road and was last seen on the Tully Road just around the corner from where he lived. When last seen out cycling near his home in Kells, Mr Campbell was wearing a red top with the letters TCG on it and long black leggings. He is around six foot tall, of a slim build with short dark hair.

Detective Inspector Blemmings appealed for anyone who might have seen Mr Campbell cycling on New Year’s Day or who might have information about his whereabouts to contact Ballymena CID on 0845 600 8000.

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