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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Family's new plea over lost son | Family's new plea over lost son |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| The father of missing islander Simon MacMillan believes someone has a "gem" of information that could solve the mystery of his son's disappearance. | |
| The 21-year-old, from South Uist in the Western Isles, remains missing despite extensive efforts to find him. | The 21-year-old, from South Uist in the Western Isles, remains missing despite extensive efforts to find him. |
| Speaking publicly for the first time, Angus MacMillan said details were still emerging about the hours before he went missing early on Boxing Day. | Speaking publicly for the first time, Angus MacMillan said details were still emerging about the hours before he went missing early on Boxing Day. |
| He said speculation of foul play was "absolutely untrue". | He said speculation of foul play was "absolutely untrue". |
| The Merchant Navy cadet had made a surprise visit home for Christmas after his vessel docked on the isles for repairs. | |
| He was last seen in the early hours of Friday, 26 December, after stepping off a minibus at a point just a few miles from his home near Ardmore. | |
| Mr MacMillan said: "This is the mystery. This is the absolute mystery of Simon's disappearance. | |
| "We can only continue looking and asking for any information that somebody may have, regardless of how small and insignificant to them. | |
| "There is a gem of information out there that will hopefully help to find Simon. We need people to come forward with that information." | |
| Mr MacMillan, who is chairman of Storas Uibhist which runs the 93,000-acre South Uist Estate following a community buy-out, said his son's case remained a missing person's enquiry and dismissed reports of foul play as "absolutely untrue and not helpful". | |
| He said: "We still hope that Simon is out there alive and will come back." | |
| The MacMillan family also praised the efforts of search teams which have continued to look along the coastline and inland areas of South Uist. | |
| Strathclyde Police divers were also due to arrive to begin searches of lochs and lochans. | Strathclyde Police divers were also due to arrive to begin searches of lochs and lochans. |