Joy for one family mirrored by anguish for another

Published on Wednesday 30 December 2009 21:57

THE chances of Scot Alan McMenemy returning home to his loved ones are slim – with the Foreign Office warning his family earlier this year that it does not believe he is still alive.

But his wife Roseleen will not allow herself to think the worst.

The 33-year-old, who has two children with Mr McMenemy, Erin, 15, and four-year-old Luke, was informed in July by the Foreign Office that it was "very likely" the security guard was dead.

But only a week before Christmas – the third she has spent without her husband – she renewed her appeal for the 34-year-old's release.

"My son Luke did ask Santa to bring his daddy home for Christmas; that's what he'd like for Christmas," she said.

Asked if she believed her husband was alive, the 33-year-old said: "I think I have to believe that at the moment. I think it'd be too difficult to think of anything else."

Born and raised in Glasgow, Mr McMenemy worked as a private security guard for the Canadian company GardaWorld. He had been based in Iraq since 2003, staying there for three months at a time before going home for four weeks.

His employment there caused concern among his family, but he reassured them Iraqis were warm and generous people and risk was always present in his work.

Other than a video and a photograph released a month after his abduction, there has been no indication Mr McMenemy is alive.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband acknowledged as much yesterday when he told how the "joy and relief" felt by Mr Moore's family will be mirrored by the "continuing anguish" of those close to Mr McMenemy.