THE family of a missing RAF gunner have backed fundraising efforts to pay for detective work they claim “incompetent” police are not up to doing.
The Just Giving page for Corrie McKeague is raising £20,000 to pay a private detective and fund a data analyst.
The family of Corrie, 23, from Dunfermline, Fife, claim the cash will allow campaigners to “undertake the work the police are not capable or resourcing”.
Corrie, a member of the RAF Regiment, went missing more than ten weeks ago after a night out with friends in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk.
Suffolk Police have been unable to trace Corrie after he was spotted on CCTV walking into a dead-end, loading bay area in the town at 3.25am on September 24.
The Just Giving page – We’re raising £20,000 to help find RAF serviceman Corrie McKeague – was set up by family friend Cheryl Hickman on Tuesday night.
This morning it had already raised over £13,000 from almost 1,200 donors, most of whom gave £5 or £10.
The page read: “The police investigation team, through a combination of lack of resources, intransigence and incompetence have failed to capture and process vital evidence and still lack the basic resources to efficiently process a tiny number of phone calls per week.
“After so many weeks of managing this search, Corrie’s mum, Nicola and his brothers Makeyan and Darroch are now desperately seeking your assistance to allow them to continue the search.
“With your support we would like to use all funds to fund the appointment of a Private Investigator.
“Fund a data analyst to undertake the work the Police are not capable or resourcing. Collect, collate and analyse all of the information gathered so far that will continue to be collected.”
The money will also be used to pay for the overhead cost of phone numbers and computers, as well as the additional costs of being away from home for Corrie’s family.
The page adds: “The family are committed to keeping these costs low. We desperately need your help to be able to bring Corrie home.”
Nicola, herself a serving officer with Police Scotland, later shared the crowdfunding page on her Facebook page and wrote a message confirming the page was endorsed by herself and her sons.
Thousands of supporters have joined the campaign and left messages of support for the family.
Jackie Adams wrote: “It seems really sad, that a serving police officer has to be so let down, by the organisation she works for. I feel that there are many missing people, who are lost to the lack of resources in the system.”
Amanda Lewis said: “The police force should be ashamed of themselves.”
Pip Mellish said: “I have never been on such a united group, we all have one aim and that is to support Nicola, her family and get Corrie home.
“There really is such an amazing feeling of love and support for the family and the speed the fundraising is going just proves how determined we all are to help get a result, god bless you all.”
Ste Manley-Clarke wrote: “Great we are able to pull together and have the opportunity to help find Corrie and support his mum Nicola and the family in their search.”
Corrie, who was based in Honnington, Suffolk, joined his friends in Flex nightclub but left well before closing time, slightly unsteady through drink, and headed for something to eat.
He was last spotted on CCTV around 03.25am walking alone and eating takeaway food.
Yesterday Nicola said in an interview: “The police have behaved in such a way that they have utterly destroyed any faith or trust I have in them actually trying to do something to find Corrie.
“They have absolutely destroyed my belief that they are competent and they know what they’re doing.
“This is more than just resources, this is an utter betrayal of trust.”
Corrie’s grandparents also revealed they were offering a five figure reward for information leading to his return.
Just Giving: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/helpfindcorrie?utm_source=Facebook&utm_medium=Yimbyprojectpage&utm_content=helpfindcorrie&utm_campaign=projectpage-share-owner&utm_term=Q5596NB6Z
