Missing Renfrew man's family in Spain praised for their 'strength'

It comes after Paisley and Renfrewshire North MP Gavin Newlands said he was "horrified" to hear that Gary's family has been struggling to receive regular updates about the investigation.

Gary Watson Shearer arrived in the resort of Puerto del Carmen on March 16, to celebrate St Patrick's Day.

The 53-year-old was then last seen in the early hours of the next morning, and he then failed to show up for his flight home a week later.

We previously reported that Debbie Shearer, Gary's sister revealed the family has faced a lack of communication from Spanish cops around the investigation.

However, it is now understood that following a recent meeting between the Renfrew man's family and Gavin Newlands, the Foreign Office has been in touch again and communication has improved.

The MP said: “I was contacted by Michelle Shearer in April following the disappearance of her brother Gary Shearer in Lanzarote.

“Following my first meeting with the family I wrote to the Secretary of State to the Foreign Office to highlight the lack of correspondence between the British Consulate and Gary’s family.

“I was also able to raise the case at Business Questions in the House of Commons where I urged the Leader of the House to push the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to improve correspondence and provide further support to the family.

“Last week I met with Gary’s Mum & sister to discuss the case, I was horrified to hear that again the family had been struggling to gain regular updates and had received no further contact from the consulate.

Gary Shearer (Image: Newsquest)

“I again contacted the Foreign Office, and I am pleased to hear that they have been in touch with the family and communication has improved and arrangements made for the family to view the most recent CCTV discovery.”

We previously reported that new CCTV footage of the missing Celtic fan has been revealed by authorities.

The CCTV footage from Spanish cops (Image: Gary Shearer)

As part of the footage, cops are looking to speak to a mystery man who was last seen walking with Gary on March 17.

Gavin Newlands continued to say: “Gary’s case remains very much an active investigation and I will continue to support the family in ensuring they receive regular updates and that effective lines of communication continue.

“The family have shown such dignity and strength in their continued dedication to finding Gary and I hope this latest development provides much-needed answers.”

They are looking to speak to the man pictured in the footage (Image: Gary Shearer)

The loved family man reportedly disappeared from outside Bar 67 in Puerto del Carmen, however, CCTV cameras show he was lying unconscious in a shop doorway next to the pub at around 1.30am on March 17.

Gary was last seen wearing a Celtic top, shorts, and white Nike trainers with green and yellow flashes.

He is described as being around 5ft 2inch tall, has short hair, and walks with a distinctive limp.

A spokesperson for the Foreign, Commonwealth, and Development Office said: “We are supporting the family of a British man reported missing in Spain and are in contact with the local authorities.”