A Liverpool fan who campaigns for victims of the Hillsborough disaster has made an urgent appeal for help in finding his missing granddaughter.
Elliana Shand has been at the centre of private family court litigation and is thought to have been abducted by her schizophrenic mother Jessica Richards, 26, in breach of a judge’s order.
Estate agent Sean Doyle, 51, who comes from Liverpool but now lives with wife Eileen, 52, in the Wembley area of London, on Friday begged people to think if they might have seen Elliana or her mother.
“Please think if you have seen them,” said Mr Doyle, whose son Craig, 29, of Southend, Essex, is Elliana’s father.
“They both need to be found as a matter of urgency.
“We know Jessica loves Elliana to bits.
“But Jessica is schizophrenic and Elliana is only three.
“Have you seen them? Have you seen them in a play area, in a McDonald’s, in a shop?
“They must be somewhere. Someone must have seen them.
“They both need help.
“Please, please help us find them. And if you see them please call the police straight away.
“We are so worried.”
A judge who is overseeing Elliana’s case at hearings in the Family Division of the High Court in London had appealed for help finding the youngster and her mother, in November.
Mr Justice Hayden said he was ”very concerned indeed” for Elliana’s safety.
On Friday he gave Mr Doyle permission to make more media appeals for help and to release a photograph of Elliana’s mother.
Elliana had been living with her mother, who is separated from her father.
They vanished during the summer after social services staff at Barking and Dagenham Council raised concern about Elliana’s welfare.