Family of missing Highland man Finn Creaney begin ‘healing journey’

THE family of a Highland father of two last seen exactly three years ago today have paid tribute to everyone who helped to try and trace him.

Finn Creaney (33) was last seen around 2.15pm on Friday, March 25, 2022 at Altnaharra in Sutherland on the B873 road near Loch Naver.

Dad Mark, who maintained a determined search for his son, admitted in October 2023 he feared the worst after Finn's rucksack was found close to the loch.

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Finn’s wife Lucy spearheaded wider search efforts and got the word out to an audience of millions when she spoke to the prime time programme, Vanished: The Hunt for Britain’s Missing People, fronted by Dan Walker.

In a poignant post shared today, the third anniversary of his disappearance, she said the family has started its healing journey and there will be no further updates to the page as the search for Finn has concluded.

She wrote: “Three years since we all last seen Finn! Hope he is at peace and rocking with the legends in the spirit realm!”

She added: “Forever grateful for your support throughout this difficult time and wish you all the best. Rest easy Finn Creaney! Always in our memories.”

The experienced bushcraft enthusiast, who was also a very talented guitarist, was then posted missing on March 28, 2022 after failing to turn up as expected.

Finn, of the Pitcalnie area near Tain, was said by his wife to be the happiest he has ever been at the time of his disappearance leaving loved ones desperately looking for answers.

In an update posted at the end of October 2023, dad Mark wrote: “In an update posted online, Finn's dad said: "As you know Finn went missing 18 months ago on his hike from Loch Naver to Golspie and despite searching the hills for all that time we found no clues to him being there.

"That was up to two weeks ago when a couple of deerstalkers on their way to work at Altnaharra came across Finn's rucksack at the side of Loch Naver and after a close inspection of the rucksack and its belongings and a few other items that we can't really get into we now believe that Finn attempted to swim the loch in order to cut his journey time somewhat to the coast.

"Finn is a really strong swimmer and a good wild swimmer but for some reasons that we don't know about we fear that he may not have made the swim.

"Police divers have been down last week and they searched the area where the rucksack was found and his possible start point and they came up with nothing.

"All this is just a real blow to Finn's family and everyone who cares about Finn. Everybody loves him. And unfortunately we fear the worst."

Today’s post on the third anniversary of his disappearance triggered scores of supportive good wishes. One wrote: “Wishing you so much love and hope on your healing journey. I hope one day you get the answers you deserve. He loved the Highlands and will live on through all of you who loved him. Xxxxx”

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