A family have launched a desperate appeal to bring a ‘loving caring dad home’ after a man they believe could be their missing father has been spotted in Glasgow nearly seven years after he vanished.
Paul Harley Jr, 37, saw a photo shared online of a man who he thinks bears a strong resemblance to his father Paul Harley Sr being assisted to shelter outside Glasgow Central Station last week.
The father-of-three, who worked as a welder for Network Rail and lived in Dumbarton, disappeared on September 28, 2014, then aged 53.
Mr Harley Jr, who lives in Coatbridge, said he has been into Glasgow city centre since the photo was shared on Facebook and spoken to two people who say they recognise the man in the image.
He pleaded: ‘Hi, can everyone share this, let’s get it all over Facebook please, we think it might be our dad Paul, he has been missing for nearly 7 years, this photo was taken we think outside Glasgow Central Station a few days ago.
Father-of-three Paul Harley Sr, who worked as a welder for Network Rail and lived in Dumbarton, vanished on September 28, 2014, then aged 53
Paul Harley Jr, 37, saw a photo shared online of a man who bears a strong resemblance to his father Paul Harley Sr being assisted to shelter outside Glasgow Central Station last week
‘If you are in the Glasgow area I have been into Glasgow today and spoke to 2 people who recognise him, can you please look out for him, the trainers are quite distinctive, don’t approach him as it may scare him, if you can take a photo of him and send me it with location, let’s bring this loving caring dad home, thanks for reading.’
The photo of the man resembling Mr Harley Sr was shared by volunteer charity Homeless Project Scotland on Twitter around 2am last Tuesday.
It shows a man sitting near to the station entrance in freezing conditions during a snow blizzard clutching a paper cup.
Homeless Project Scotland tweeted: ‘Our team along with Glasgow Street Aid assisted a man off the cold – 1 streets covered in snow in Glasgow we assisted the man to shelter with the help of Glasgow City Mission over Night Welcome centre and thank you to Police Scotland transport. Working together we saved a life on our cold streets.’
Police Scotland have been approached for comment.
At the time of his disappearance in 2014, Mr Harley Sr was described as white, around 5ft 3 tall and of slim build, with black receding hair, green eyes and a tattoo stating ‘Kyla’ on his right arm.
The photo of the man resembling Mr Harley Sr was shared by volunteer charity Homeless Project Scotland on Twitter around 2am last Tuesday
Mr Harley Jr, who lives in Coatbridge, said he has been into Glasgow city centre since the photo was shared on Facebook and spoken to two people who say they recognise the man
A missing person’s appeal issued by police noted that Mr Harley Sr is ‘a much loved father and is well known in the local community’ and that he is known to travel throughout the country by train.
Last April, Glasgow Live spoke to Mr Harley Jr, who vowed to never give up the search for his father.
He said: ‘You never give up hope. I remember seeing one case where a woman was missing for 12 or 14 years and her body was finally found, so it can happen.
‘After two years, we [his family] no longer thought we’d find him alive. But we just want to find him, no matter what.
‘I think about him every day. It never leaves you. As the years go on, you live with it, but it never leaves you.
‘It’s just hope that keeps us going. We’re just waiting for the chap on the door to say he’s been found.
He told Glagsow Live that the challenge of finding Mr Harley Sr was made harder by the cycle of coronavirus lockdowns.
‘It’s probably made it worse, because you’re not working and have more time to sit around and overthink things,’ Mr Harley Jr said.