THE mother of a local man who had been missing for almost four months said she was 'over the moon' he had been found in Wales.
John Coll (56) a single man, originally from Carrigart, with an address at Slieve Sneacht, Letterkenny disappeared on January 4.
After a search all over the country and in Britain he was found in Holyhead. He is currently in hospital where he is receiving treatment but the family are anxious to get him home as soon as possible.
Speaking to the Donegal News his mother Annie said she had feared the worst but was delighted that John had been found.
"It is great news after so long. I had feared the worst but always held out the hope that he would be found and when I got the call from the Gardai that he was located I was over the moon," Annie said.
"John is in hospital in Wales and it will be a while before he is fit to travel. He has lost a lot of weight but is responding well to treatment. My son, Fred, is with him and other family will visit at the weekend," she said.
She paid tribute to the Gardai, police and all who had helped in the search.
"I'd like in particular to thank Inspector Pat O'Donnell for his work on this case and our friends, neighbours who helped put up posters and anyone who helped in any way. I'd nearly given up really because it was such a long time," an emotional Annie said.
His sister Catherine McClelland said they were thrilled he had been found.
"We're so grateful that John has been located. We'd like to thank everyone who helped and prayed that John would turn up safe and well. It was a very worrying time for the family," she said.
John, who was on medication, was last seen on CCTV footage walking in the direction of the Hospital Roundabout. His disappearance was featured on CrimeCall recently and as a result the gardai received seventeen phone calls. Inspector Pat O'Donnell said it was a fantastic result for the family.
"We were aware from the CrimeCall programme that he was in Dublin and he must have made his way then to Wales. John was on medication and as the days went by we were getting more and more worried for him. We're delighted that he was found and that he will make a full recovery," he said.
