Brother of man missing in Turkey 'still in limbo'

Terry Burns said it "breaks" him every time he thinks about his missing brother Gary

A man whose brother went missing in Turkey nine years ago has renewed his appeal for any information about what happened to him.

Gary Burns grew up in Prenton, Merseyside, before moving to Turkey in 2009 for a new life with his partner after a holiday romance blossomed.

When the pair split after a few years he stayed in the Icmeler beach resort, telling his relatives he had made a new life there and was happy.

Terry Burns said the family had been "left in limbo" since August 2016 when they last heard from him, and have urged anyone with information to come forward and "try and give us some peace".

The last photograph taken of Gary Burns, pictured with his sister Danielle in a bar in Turkey

Terry said his brother, a Liverpool FC fan, had a tough couple of years and moving to Turkey had "given him a new lease of life".

Their younger sister Danielle, who was a holiday rep in Turkey, went to see Gary in early August 2016.

Gary, who was 38 at the time, claimed he had not been paid, along with other workers, by the bar he was living and working at.

Terry said he told Danielle: "Once I get paid I'm leaving the job."

'Can't grieve properly'

Terry said he was popular among local people and would meet up with friends from home when they went to Turkey on holiday.

He said he loved giving them a tour of the area.

Alarm bells started ringing for the family when one of Gary's friends returned from Turkey and said she had not see him.

Gary had also stopped posting on social media, raising fears further.

Terry said: "I put a post out on Facebook saying... has anyone seen him or has anyone heard from him?"

While the family were in contact with the Foreign Office as well as the Turkish authorities, they said they had never been given any answers about the circumstances around Gary's disappearance.

The bar closed about three months after Gary vanished and the family did not receive any of his possessions, said Terry.

"It's soul destroying," he said. "It breaks you every time you think about it.

"You know something's happened because you don't just go missing.

"His passport's never been used, so you know he's still in that country. To not know leaves you in limbo. You can't grieve properly because you just don't know."

Terry Burns (left) said Gary had a "new lease of life" when he moved to Turkey

'Give us peace'

Terry said his family had been supported by Missing People, which offers emotional and practical help for loved ones, and LBG Global, which provides overseas crisis support for the loved ones of those who go missing abroad.

Missing People said: "We continue to stand alongside Gary Burns's family, offering them the same ongoing support we provide to all families affected by a disappearance, for as long as they need us.

"Our thoughts remain with them, and we remain committed to being here whenever they need us."

A Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office spokesperson said: "We supported the family of a British man who went missing in Turkey in 2016 and were in contact with the local authorities."

The family is convinced someone knows about Gary's disappearance and has urged them to come forward either on the Gary Burns Appeal Page or via Missing People.

"Hopefully you can find it in your heart to... tell us to try and give us some peace," said Terry.

When he went missing, Gary was described by Merseyside Police as 5ft 11in (1.8m) tall, of slim build and with brown hair.