Found Deceased UK - Matthew McCallan, 15, last seen 1.30am Jamboree Festival, Fintona, Northern Ireland, 4th December 2022.

[StillDiggin]

Lots of concern for Matthew. He is not from the area so will be unfamiliar with his surrounds.
Police in Omagh and Dungannon are concerned for the welfare and whereabouts of Matthew McCallan.

Matthew was last seen at 01:30 hours this morning 04/12/22, at the Jamboree in Fintona.

https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=pfbid0GtgfxRmv4T4Fx3XedrTdXshLr8cqTjgSX447FxDW1nG8RVpwvMkFJAQku3f1SpYVl&id=100064633873973

Hundreds of volunteers join search for missing boy Matthew McCallan (15)

Hundreds of volunteers have taken part in a search for missing teenager Matthew McCallan who was last seen in the Fintona area in the early hours of Sunday.

www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk

 

[StillDiggin]

Search resumes for missing teen last seen at country music festival in Tyrone

Concerns are growing for 15-year-old Matthew McCallan who was last seen in Fintona at 1.30am on Sunday.

www.irishmirror.ie

 

[Snoopster]

Uh oh...

Searches for missing teenager Matthew McCallan have reportedly been suspended as police cordon off a road in Co Tyrone.

PSNI vehicles are stationed on the Tattyreagh Road outside Fintona where searches took place for missing 15-year-old.

Matthew McCallan: Searches suspended for missing teen as police attend Co Tyrone scene

 

[Snoopster]

Unfortunately, devastating news for Matthew's loved ones.
Statement from the police:

Detectives in the Criminal Investigation Department are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a teenage boy following the discovery of a body in the Fintona area shortly before 12 noon on Monday, 5th December.

It is believed to be the body of 15 year old Matthew McCallan from the Dungannon area.

Detective Inspector Michael Winters said: “Our thoughts are very much with Matthew’s devastated family who received this tragic news today. A number of specially trained officers are providing support to them at this time.

“Detectives will continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death, which is currently being treated as unexplained.

“Police received a report of a missing person shortly after 3.30am on Sunday, 4th December when Matthew did not arrive home after attending an event in Fintona on Saturday night.

“Sadly a body, which we believe to be Matthew, was discovered in a ditch in the laneway of a property approximately two miles away from the social event today, Monday 5th December, at 11.45am.

“We are keeping an open mind and would appeal for anyone with information to come forward. Matthew was last seen at approximately 1.20 am in the Ecclesville Centre, Fintona, and we are keen to establish his movements after this time. I would appeal to anyone who saw the teenager or anyone who has CCTV or dashcam footage, to contact police on 101, quoting reference number 319 of 04/12/22.”

(bolding by me)

https://www.psni.police.uk/latest-n...zw8rmD-9Oom9H_4s2t9N0agCaEh9iF_k_2dOg2Tud0xTs

 

[YaYa_521]

Rest in peace, Matthew.

 

[GMS]

Condolences to the family, friends and community.

Not a lot of information available, but wondering if he could have been walking and was struck by a vehicle? I hate to think, as an alternate possibility, that there was foul play involved and his body was left there.

 

[katydid23]

Are there any hard drugs at this festival? Music festivals make me nervous because teens may accept or agree to do something they wouldn't normally try.

 

[Snoopster]

Condolences to the family, friends and community.

Not a lot of information available, but wondering if he could have been walking and was struck by a vehicle? I hate to think, as an alternate possibility, that there was foul play involved and his body was left there.

I'm with you on that.
That road is on the way to Omagh...the next large town. Matthew might have had a bit to drink; couldn't get a ride; and went walking. Perhaps he strayed a bit from the side of the road and someone hit him. They panicked, and placed him the ditch. This would be a better outcome than Matthew being picked up and attacked.

And then there is the possibilitiy of self-harm, but I don't believe this is the case as he ended up in a small ditch. It just doesn't ring true.
I think it was an accident gone wrong.

 

[StillDiggin]

Matthew goes to a school in Dungannon. There is a lovely fb tribute to Matthew written by his school I posted down below. Dungannon is about 28 miles away, 2 far for an attempt to walk home. The event on at Fintona was Jamboree Winter Wonderland, a one day country music event/festival. It Finished at 1 am. Also you have to be 18 to attend in the events terms & conditions & Matthew is only 15.
I do wonder what was Matthews plan to sleep that night. This i don’t think is a camping festival which probably wouldn’t happen in winter anyway. I image there would of been group taxis or coaches to take people home. Maybe it’s possible Matthew unfortunately missed a ride home. There is CCTV images of Matthew around the village of Fintona at 2 am, even speaking to somebody who i read had come forward.
School tribute.

We are so saddened by the tragic and untimely passing of our Year 12 student, Matthew McCallan. Today brought the worst possible outcome for the parents, family, friends and our school community – to have lost Matthew so tragically, we are just devastated.

Matthew was a quiet boy, not overly confident- a young man still growing into his skin. He had a slow smile, that spread and lit up his face, then the twinkle hit his eyes. He was a young person who loved the practicalities of learning – opting to study construction, engineering and road traffic studies.
He enjoyed nothing better than being in the workshop getting the chance to develop his skills.
For Christmas his father had only just bought him a toolbox – he would have so loved that.
We have not just lost a member of our school community – the world has lost a young man full of potential, ready and eager to start out on his journey of life and work.

Our thoughts are with Matthew’s mummy Frances and his daddy Peter, he was the apple of their eye.
They need our prayers now to face the days ahead. His family have lost a grandchild, a nephew, a cousin, his friends have lost a loyal, witty companion, who was supposed to be with them for so much longer.
May Matthew’s gentle soul rest in eternal peace.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis

Mum leads tributes to 'beautiful' Co Tyrone teen following tragic death

Matthew’s mum thanked all those who helped coordinate the search efforts for her only child

www.belfastlive.co.uk

 

[ChatteringBirds]

Truly sad. Sincere condolences to his family.

 

[StillDiggin]

Mum raised the alarm at 3.30am when he didn’t return home.
Also snipped From the article .

Officers said that “detectives in the Criminal Investigation Department” had become involved.
Matthew was last seen on CCTV near a takeaway in the Fintona area.
He and a man were spotted getting into a grey car.

Cops investigating after Matthew McCallan, 15, found dead in rural Co Tyrone

DETECTIVES are investigating after the body of a teenager was found near a laneway in Co Tyrone. A search party had been combing the area in the hunt for missing Matthew McCallan, 15, who disappear…

www.thesun.ie

 

[Tealgrove]

Mum raised the alarm at 3.30am when he didn’t return home.
Also snipped From the article .

Officers said that “detectives in the Criminal Investigation Department” had become involved.
Matthew was last seen on CCTV near a takeaway in the Fintona area.
He and a man were spotted getting into a grey car.

Cops investigating after Matthew McCallan, 15, found dead in rural Co Tyrone

DETECTIVES are investigating after the body of a teenager was found near a laneway in Co Tyrone. A search party had been combing the area in the hunt for missing Matthew McCallan, 15, who disappear…

www.thesun.ie

Hmmm

Maybe it wasn’t an accident. Looks like there could be more to this than it originally appeared.

 

[Snoopster]

Mum raised the alarm at 3.30am when he didn’t return home.
Also snipped From the article .

Officers said that “detectives in the Criminal Investigation Department” had become involved.
Matthew was last seen on CCTV near a takeaway in the Fintona area.
He and a man were spotted getting into a grey car.

Cops investigating after Matthew McCallan, 15, found dead in rural Co Tyrone

DETECTIVES are investigating after the body of a teenager was found near a laneway in Co Tyrone. A search party had been combing the area in the hunt for missing Matthew McCallan, 15, who disappear…

www.thesun.ie

LE have since ruled out the grey car lead.

PSNI to meet family of Matthew McCallan after concerns raised over investigation

“Detectives will continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding Matthew’s death, which is being treated as unexplained and a post mortem is due to take place today," Detective Talbot added.

“We are keeping an open mind at this stage and would appeal for anyone with information to come forward. Matthew was last seen at approximately 1.20am in the Ecclesville Centre, Fintona, and we are keen to establish his movements after this time."

<snip>

“Enquiries have now ruled out speculation which circulated on social media that Matthew was seen getting into a silver car. We have now identified and spoken to the occupants of the car and eliminated them from our enquiries.

 

[Snoopster]

There is clearly some frustration with how the initial stages of the investigation were handled.

​

“I told them it was totally out of character, yet hours went by and no one listened and my friends and the Fintona community gathered the necessary CCTV evidence.
“My friends and the Fintona community gathered the necessary CCTV evidence. These people went above and beyond and were an amazing help. This can’t happen again, another parent can’t feel the pain I feel. Please share, so we can make change and prevent this happening to another innocent soul.”

A voluntary search dog organisation added that it had been ready to assist with the police search, but that they were never contacted to do so.
A spokesperson for the Search And Rescue Dog Association Ireland North (SARDA IN) said: “SARDA IN are the only voluntary Search Dog Team on the Northern Ireland Assets Register.
“We can only be deployed at the request of the PSNI.
“We were available to be tasked to assist in the search for Matthew and had at least six Search Dogs (two Scent Specific Trailing Dogs and four Air Scenting Search Dogs) with Handlers ready and waiting, but we were not tasked.

Matthew McCallan: Tyrone teen’s case referred to Police Ombudsman after criticism of PSNI response

 

[GMS]

Have there been any reports, LE or MSM, from MM's friends that he attended the festival with and their account of what happened? Did they all plan to leave / ride home together? Did MM get separated from them? Did he meet someone at the festival and make different plans to get home?

 

[StillDiggin]

There are photos of Matthew at the event on the missing appeals that are still up. He has his arm around a girl in this shot.

Cops investigating after Matthew McCallan, 15, found dead in rural Co Tyrone

DETECTIVES are investigating after the body of a teenager was found near a laneway in Co Tyrone. A search party had been combing the area in the hunt for missing Matthew McCallan, 15, who disappear…

www.thesun.ie

Matthews mum is not happy at all at the way police have handled her sons disappearance at all.

Some hours ago Frances McCallan posted on social media: “Whats on my mind.... my son is dead because the police service of Northern Ireland did nothing to help in the first ten to twelve hours of going missing, i told them it was totally out of character, yet hours went by and no one listened and my friends and the Fintona community gathered the necessary cctv evidence.

"These people went above and beyond and were an amazing help. This cant happen again, another parent can't feel the pain I feel.
"Please share so we can make change and prevent this happening to another innocent soul.”

Post mortem taking place today. Police have said this.
Sadly Matthew was discovered in a ditch in the laneway of a property approximately two miles away from the social event at around 11.45am yesterday.
“Enquiries have now ruled out speculation which circulated on social media that Matthew was seen getting into a silver car. We have now identified and spoken to the occupants of the car and have eliminated them from our enquires.

Police Ombudsman notified after Matthew McCallan's mum said PSNI did 'nothing to help' after he went missing

The PSNI have now contacted the Police Ombudsman after becoming aware of criticism by the heartbroken mother of Matthew McCallan that they did not act quickly enough.

www.newsletter.co.uk

 

[Snoopster]

Have there been any reports, LE or MSM, from MM's friends that he attended the festival with and their account of what happened? Did they all plan to leave / ride home together? Did MM get separated from them? Did he meet someone at the festival and make different plans to get home?

There has been no information about the specifics of Matthew's plans, including if he went with any other people, how he got there and how he planned to get home.

 

[GMS]

I'm curious for those local or more familiar with the area, is the location where MM was discovered in the direction he would have been traveling to go home from the festival? I believe I read his home is approximately 20 miles from the festival which would have been quite far to walk, but wasn't sure if it was in the same direction.

 

[StillDiggin]

Police rule out murder after missing teen found miles from where last seen

COPS have ruled out murder in the case of a missing teen, the PSNI said. Matthew McCallan was found in a ditch off a rural road in Co Tyrone last week after disappearing on a night out. Police say …

www.thesun.ie

 

[Vail]

I'm going to speculate that this is another case of friends ditching/leaving him alone and he died of exposure trying to walk home.