John Delaney

A Irish man, John Delaney, went missing in 2000 and his family filed a missing person report with the local police in Manchester. Delaney had been living in a hostel in Manchester when he disappeared.¹ Despite public appeals with his photograph by police, social services and the family, no information was received. In Manchester in April 2003, a badly-discomposed body was discovered wearing similar clothes and having similar wounds. The coroner identified the body as John Delaney and the family held a wake and had the body cremated.

In April 2008, John Renehan was watching a television program about missing persons when he recognized his father, John Delaney. A DNA test confirmed Delaney's identity and he was reunited with is family.²

Fast Facts

1. Originally from Co Laois, Ireland¹
2. Left Ireland sometime during the 1960s¹
3. Was 71 years-old when he was found by his son, John Renehan²
4. Had a history of head and rib wounds, similar to the body that was found in 2003²
5. 2000: Reported missing by his family²
6. 2000: Was found wandering dazed and confused in Oldham, Greater Manchester, England²
7. Had complete memory loss due to a head injury and was given the name, David Harrison²
8. Has been in a care home (nursing home) run by Oldham Social Services since he was found in 2000²
9. Due to the laws at the time, Oldham Social Services could not issue a public appeal for information could not be issued without Delaney's consent²
10. 2008: The law was changed which allowed RTÉ and BBC television to film him and issue public appeals in the hope that "David Harrison" would be identified¹

Quotes

• "This is an awful situation for the man to find his father is still alive and he's had no contact with him. I have the greatest sympathy with the family. I think the public will appreciate this is a difficult situation where you have a very badly decomposed body. We will need to review what happened here with the coroner."—Peter Fahy, Chief Constable of Greater Manchester police³

Related Pages on Mahalo

John Renehan | Ireland | England | DNA

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