The family of missing Co Down man Philip Porter have endured a “devastating” Christmas period without word of their loved one who has not been seen for five weeks.
The 46-year-old was last spotted in the Lurgan Road area of Moira at 2.15am on December 5, and despite police appeals for information, his whereabouts remain unknown.
Searches have since remained focused on the Moira area, while police also urged people in the area of the Mourne Mountains who believe they may have seen him to contact them, as Philip had previously made reference to travelling to the region.
Philip’s sister Heather Rosbotham told The Irish News that a number of unconfirmed sightings of her brother have been reported, but each has been ruled out after investigation by police.
“The police have been great and they continue to contact me every day about what they are doing to find Philip,” she said.
“The problem is that Philip was last seen in Moira, and we don’t really have anything else to go on. If we had a confirmed sighting somewhere else, that he was definitely seen there, then the investigation would be shifted, but it’s primarily staying in the Moira area for now.”
Speaking of how her family is coping, Heather said Philip’s loved ones, including their elderly parents and her own two teenage children, remained “heartbroken” at being without answers.
“He is everybody’s favourite person, and he has his family, including his niece and nephew, who love him dearly,” she said.
“I love my brother to pieces, and with the recent weather and freezing temperatures, we are even more concerned for him. We just want to know where he is - we want him to reach out and just let us know he is well.”
Philip had been living in Munich in recent years, before returning home last year to help his mother after she underwent surgery.
The family had been looking forward to spending Christmas together before Philip went missing.
“We are stuck in a kind of limbo, where we are desperately hoping for news. During Christmas it was hard to have any level of normality, as we all have overwhelming moments where it’s just devastating,” she said.
“Both my teenage children and my husband have been out helping with searches, through forests and fields. I’ve been so impressed with their strength and their will to keep going.”
She added: “I would just ask the public to please keep Philip in their minds when they are out and about anywhere on this small island of ours, and to please give the police a call if they see him or if they know anything, no matter how insignificant.”
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When he was last seen, Philip was wearing navy blue trousers, a navy hoodie with white toggles under a navy jacket, a green and black checked shirt and black high-top style trainers with beige soles.
The PSNI has called for anyone with information on Philip to contact them.
They have also appealed for motorists who were travelling in the Moira and Magheralin areas between 2.15am and 6am on Thursday December 5 to review any dash-cam footage that may assist officers with enquiries.
