Show of support after missing Liam found in Hamburg river

[TrueBlueTerrier]

https://www.inverness-courier.co.uk/New ... 042018.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

THE family of missing Inverness postman Liam Colgan have been inundated with condolences and messages of support after his body was discovered in Hamburg.

Politicians, church leaders and Royal Mail have all paid tribute to Mr Colgan, who was pulled from the River Elbe in the HafenCity quarter at around 6.30am on Monday.

Postman and musician Mr Colgan (29) was last seen on February 10 while on his brother’s stag do.

German police were yet to formally identify the body as the Inverness Courier went to press on Monday, but the Lucie Blackman Trust, a charity working to support families of those who go missing abroad, released a statement saying that Mr Colgan’s driving licence had been discovered in a pocket and he was wearing the same clothes as on the night he disappeared.

Nicola Lyall, Royal Mail delivery office manager, said: "Staff across Royal Mail in Inverness are devastated by Liam’s tragic death.

"He was extremely well liked and a brilliant employee, who loved being a postman. He will be sadly missed by his colleagues in the Fortrose office and across Inverness and the Highlands."

Inverness MP Drew Hendry had been supporting the family in their efforts to find Liam and said the discovery of his body was "tragic news".

He added: "It is such a devastating conclusion to an extraordinarily difficult time for Liam’s family, who have put so much effort into finding him.

"I am sure the family will now want space and time to come to terms with their loss."

Among the dozens of messages of condolence being left online, Inverness’s Dundee United supporters club Inverness Arabs said all members’ thoughts were with the family. Mr Colgan had been a keen follower of the club.

Reverend Peter Nimmo of Inverness Old High Church also expressed his sorrow for the family and said he would be praying for all those affected.

Sarah Louise Jones, who claimed to be a former school friend of Mr Colgan’s, posted: "I was really hoping you would come home safe. My heart is breaking as I read this. You were the most amazing person I had ever met and our school days – you made them perfect."

Mr Colgan’s family had been tireless in their search for him and determinedly positive in their approach, with older brother Eamonn postponing his wedding to concentrate on the effort to trace him.

He had travelled back to Germany recently to follow up on two possible sightings of Liam, and the family had also just announced plans to expand the search to nearby cities.

An online fundraising page to help pay for the searchers’ trips to Hamburg reached the £20,000 mark.

The One For Liam initiative – which saw pubgoers across Inverness donate the cost of an extra drink on their rounds to the fundraising campaign – also raised several thousand pounds.

On Facebook a statement from the city’s Johnny Foxes bar said: "Very saddened to see this tragic news this morning, our thoughts go out to Liam’s family and friends at this very difficult time."

Eamonn Colgan has said previously that, in the worst case scenario, the money raised will help to bring Liam’s body home.