Dad-of-two’s ‘missed flight home’ was booked after he was ‘murdered’

A murdered dad’s flight home from Spain was booked after his death.

John George, 37, vanished near the end of a three-week trip to Alicante. He was due to fly home on December 18, his family was told, but he never boarded the flight.

He had sounded distressed when he last spoke to his family in a call on December 14. Then his phone went dead.

The alarm was raised when the dad-of-two failed to fly home. But by then, John had been dead for four days, shot and killed some time on the evening of December 14.

Spanish police have obtained information showing this easyJet flight from Alicante to Belfast was booked after he’d been killed, Belfast Telegraph reported.

Nearly a month after John disappeared, his decomposing body was found under trees on a private property in rural Rojales, 45 minutes south of Alicante.

A 32-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of murder after the January 6 discovery. He has since been released on bail. Two others are still wanted by police.

The PSNI will assist with any investigation into possible links with suspects in Northern Ireland.

John’s funeral is planned for Friday next week after his body is transported back to Belfast via Dublin, his father Billy said on Tuesday.

However, an autopsy does not appear to have been completed.

Following a meeting with the PSNI on Monday, the George family’s solicitor said: ‘We are pleased to report that assurances were given on upscaling communication with Spanish police to access key information on the current status of their investigation.

‘The most important issue right now for the family is when their son’s body will be returned back to Belfast.

‘To date, despite the recovery of John’s remains almost one week ago, it remains unclear as to when the autopsy will be concluded.

‘Importantly, police confirmed today they will help facilitate all steps towards completion of a second post-mortem report on the deceased.

‘The family feel very strongly about that so the assurances given this afternoon are very welcome.’

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