By C.J.McGinley THE heartbroken father of a 22-year-old missing Lifford man, who has not been seen since he escaped from police custody in the early hours of Sunday morning, has described their ordeal as ‘hell’. Hope for the safe return of David Colhoun are fading as searches of the river on both sides of the border continued. Locals gathered on Thursday at McAuley’s Cafe in Lifford to continue the search. A distraugtht Mr James Colhoun said the family had gone through ‘five days of hell’ since he first disappeared. “This is a nightmare for us. I accept at this stage [...]

By Michele Canning
THE Lifford community is with the Colhoun family in spirit as the days without any sign of 22-year-old David continue.
Fr Edward Kilpatrick, parish priest at Murlough, told the Chronicle this week that the great sense of hope felt at the beginning of the week is beginning to fade.
“There was a great sense of hope yesterday (Monday) but with nothing happening today (Tuesday), and no more news the element of reality is creeping into that hope.
“You just don’t know what to say to the family. I have been down to the river myself and really you are helpless. All I can do is keep in contact and give them moral strength and support.
“I was down before the search parties left from McCauley’s on Monday morning. Many people were out on the river and the banks helping with the search but there are many unable to. But the community is with the family in spirit.

By Michele Canning
POOR weather conditions have hampered the search for missing Lifford man, David Colhoun.
Foyle Search and Rescue team, directed by the PSNI, has been on the river since Sunday evening hoping to discover some sign of the 22-year-old.
Aiding the team have been The Loughs Agency and Louth Search and Rescue, who arrived on the river on Wednesday morning.
The PSNI in Strabane, which is leading the operation, has a search co-ordinator on site, and is working closely with the Gardai
Additionally, PSNI officers have been on the water, starting patrols around 4am.
It’s understood that weather conditions and high waters have prevented rescue helicopters and divers being called onto the scene.

HAT-TRICK hunting Tyrone must be wary of a Monaghan team still bearing the painful mental scars of recent Championship reversals against the Red Hands in Ulster Finals, manager Mickey Harte has warned.
The Farney men’s dreams of provincial glory in both 2007 and 2010 were dashed by Tyrone in Anglo-Celt showdowns but Harte cautions that a much changed Monaghan line-up are well capable of halting his side’s three-in-a-row aspirations at Healy Park on Sunday week

HOPE for the safe return of a young Lifford man, last seen in the early hours of Sunday morning, were fading last night as searches of the river on both sides of the border continued.

DIRECTOR of football at Dergview FC, Adrian Forbes has praised the professionalism and dedication of the club’s management team in steering the club to its highest ever finish in domestic football.
Dergview rounded off the season with a 1-0 victory over Limavady to cement third place in Championship One, something that the newly promoted club could have only dreamt about when Harry McConkey took over from Forbes at the beginning of the season.

STRABANE will play host to a 10K Road Race and 5K Leisure Walk on Saturday, July 2 aimed at attracting local and visiting athletes of all ages and abilities.
The Strabane District Council backed Sports Forum and Sperrin Springs are promoting this year’s event, which is open to everyone, whether they are seasoned road runners, recreational joggers or health conscious walkers.

THE Alley Theatre, Strabane in conjunction with The Balor Theatre, Ballybofey, has a treat in store for all creative children this summer. A five week summertime drama camp entitled Border Youth will run from Monday July 18 until Friday August 19. Open to 11-16 year olds, this fun summer drama camp is aimed at young people interested in learning new skills in the arts, music and drama.
“The kids will love it as it will boost their confidence and help mould their acting skills,” a spokesperson for the Alley said this week. “It’s something that they will really enjoy and it has been a great success in past years as it is loved by both the children and the facilitators.”