Scots teenager issues appeal for mother missing for six months

The teenage daughter of a woman missing for more than six months fought back tears as she appealed for her mother to get in touch.

Patricia Henry's cousin, Jacqueline McCarthy (left), and Patricia's daughter, Alannah McGrory (centre), with DCI Alan Sommerville at a press conference in Paisley, Renfrewshire. Picture: Paul Ward/PA Wire

Patricia Henry has not been seen by family or friends since 13 November last year.

The 46-year-old lived in Paisley, Renfrewshire, before relocating to Girvan in South Ayrshire in October.

She had been reported missing before and her family believed she may have travelled abroad, so Ms Henry was not reported missing until March.

There have been no sightings or activity on her bank account or mobile phone since November. Her daughter Alannah McGrory joined police today to appeal for information.

The 18-year-old said: “I hope that by coming here today someone will come forward with even the smallest piece of information that could help trace my mum.”

After a long pause, she added: “My mum is known as Patty to some people and I’m worried about her. She has never been so long without getting in touch.

“If you have any idea where my mum could be or if you’ve seen her since she was last reported missing, please let the police know.

“Mum, if you see this, please let me know you’re OK.”

When reported missing previously Ms Henry had gone on holiday and not returned, but her passport has not been used in the last six months, police said.

She had mentioned places in the UK that she might like to visit.

Officers are working with colleagues across the country to try and trace her.

Detective Chief Inspector Alan Sommerville said: “Everybody has different family circumstances, Patricia had before gone on holiday and decided not to come home. She had also recently moved to another town.

“So the family were still keeping in contact with Patricia, but there was initially some potential that she may have gone on holiday again or travelled to different areas of the UK, so initially the family’s opinion was that Patricia had gone on holiday or went to visit somebody. That’s why it wasn’t reported immediately.

“This is having a huge impact on family and friends, who are all very worried about where Patricia may be.”

Ms Henry is described as white, 5ft 10, of slim build and has collar-length brown hair.

She has a tattoo of two clouds and her name on her left leg and a tattoo of a dolphin of her hip.

Mr Sommerville said: “There was a period of time before she was reported to police and because of that there is very little CCTV evidence available to us.

However, we are carrying out house-to-house inquiries, witness investigations with all associates and friends of Patricia, and we’re carrying out investigations using both financial and telecoms inquiries.

“As we have carried out these we have found no activity in relation to Patricia since the middle of November which is why we are increasingly concerned for her safety.

“It’s very much a missing person inquiry but police need to keep all possibilities open in our mind which means we will never exclude criminality, but at this moment in time we’re trying to find out where Patricia may be.”