DRUMQUIN FATHER DELIGHTED AS HIS SON RETURNS HOME
DRUMQUIN FATHER DELIGHTED AS HIS SON RETURNS HOME
AFTER almost three months of worry, Drumquin man, Mr. Kevin Skelton, this week said his family was delighted that his son, Raymond, who vanished in November, had returned home.
The big reunion took place on Thursday of last week, when 20-year-old Raymond, who had been seeking seclusion in London, contacted his father telling him he wanted to come home.
For Mr. Skelton, who lost his wife, Philomena, in the Omagh bomb, the news was a huge relief and had brought he and his three daughters 'joy and delight'.
Raymond, a painter and joiner, had been missing for three months. He was last seen in Omagh town centre in November after he had left home to go shopping.
After he vanished, Mr. Skelton traced his son as far as Dublin, but Raymond had already left for London.
This week, Mr. Skelton confirmed that the unsigned Christmas card they had received had been from Raymond, and in January Raymond's girlfriend, who still lives in Omagh, gave Mr. Skelton a contact address for his son.
Mr. Skelton said he contacted Raymond, and eventually found him in a flat in London. Raymond's return on Thursday also reunited him with his three sisters, Paula, Tracey and Shauna.
"It was such a relief for everybody when I found Raymond in London. He told me he wanted to come home and we are so delighted to have him back," said Mr. Skelton, who added that the stress and pressure of what occurred to the family on August 15 three-and-a-half years ago had been behind his son's disappearance.
"The stress and pressure of the last few years has been too much for everybody. There is no let-up and I think it really got to him.," he said.
He said that he hoped his son was home for good, but if Raymond wanted to "go and do his own thing again" the family would not hold him back.
AFTER almost three months of worry, Drumquin man, Mr. Kevin Skelton, this week said his family was delighted that his son, Raymond, who vanished in November, had returned home.
The big reunion took place on Thursday of last week, when 20-year-old Raymond, who had been seeking seclusion in London, contacted his father telling him he wanted to come home.
For Mr. Skelton, who lost his wife, Philomena, in the Omagh bomb, the news was a huge relief and had brought he and his three daughters 'joy and delight'.
Raymond, a painter and joiner, had been missing for three months. He was last seen in Omagh town centre in November after he had left home to go shopping.
After he vanished, Mr. Skelton traced his son as far as Dublin, but Raymond had already left for London.
This week, Mr. Skelton confirmed that the unsigned Christmas card they had received had been from Raymond, and in January Raymond's girlfriend, who still lives in Omagh, gave Mr. Skelton a contact address for his son.
Mr. Skelton said he contacted Raymond, and eventually found him in a flat in London. Raymond's return on Thursday also reunited him with his three sisters, Paula, Tracey and Shauna.
"It was such a relief for everybody when I found Raymond in London. He told me he wanted to come home and we are so delighted to have him back," said Mr. Skelton, who added that the stress and pressure of what occurred to the family on August 15 three-and-a-half years ago had been behind his son's disappearance.
"The stress and pressure of the last few years has been too much for everybody. There is no let-up and I think it really got to him.," he said.
He said that he hoped his son was home for good, but if Raymond wanted to "go and do his own thing again" the family would not hold him back.
Further Information
Publisher: TYRONE CONSTITUTION
Ref: TC/1028
Published Date: 28-Feb-02
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