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| Family's new plea over lost son | Family's new plea over lost son |
| (19 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 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. | The Merchant Navy cadet had made a surprise visit home for Christmas after his vessel docked on the isles for repairs. |
| It is thought 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 following a Christmas Day dance. | It is thought 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 following a Christmas Day dance. |
| Mr MacMillan said: "This is the mystery. This is the absolute mystery of Simon's disappearance. | 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. | "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." | "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.Simon MacMillan was thought to be last seen after stepping off a minibus | |
| He dismissed reports of foul play and of sectarianism against his Catholic family as "absolutely untrue and not helpful". | He dismissed reports of foul play and of sectarianism against his Catholic family as "absolutely untrue and not helpful". |
| Mr MacMillan 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 have started searches of lochs and lochans. | Strathclyde Police divers have started searches of lochs and lochans. |
| Insp Steve Black, the officer heading Northern Constabulary's investigation, said the enquiry was being monitored at the highest level in the force. | Insp Steve Black, the officer heading Northern Constabulary's investigation, said the enquiry was being monitored at the highest level in the force. |
| He said: "A tremendous amount of effort and resource has been put into the search and enquiry over the past couple of weeks. | He said: "A tremendous amount of effort and resource has been put into the search and enquiry over the past couple of weeks. |
| "Police search advisers, coastguard and officers from throughout the area, together with members of the community have assisted with the search." | "Police search advisers, coastguard and officers from throughout the area, together with members of the community have assisted with the search." |
| The officer added: "Our main aim is to find Simon and we will exhaust all avenues to find him." | The officer added: "Our main aim is to find Simon and we will exhaust all avenues to find him." |