Mystery man on the moors is not my dad
Date published: 03 February 2016

ANOTHER video image of the mystery man
Scroll down for Video
THE body of a man found dead on Saddleworth moor is not a grandfather who went missing in Northern Ireland more than 20 years ago.
The man’s only son told the Chronicle last night that the DNA sample he provided doesn’t match that of the body Hugh Toner (78), hasn’t been seen since he went missing from a hospital in County Armagh in February 1994.
Since then, his son Sean, a father of six, has conducted vigorous searches and awareness campaigns in a bid to trace his father and first became aware of the Saddleworth body when his son Cathal, (29), spotted the story on social media.
Det Sgt John Coleman of Oldham CID, has been carrying out an exhaustive investigation to identify the dead man.
At the time he saw CCTV footage of the man, Mr Toner junior said: “I thought it could be dad. It was the way he walked and lifted his head. It was so similar to my dad’s way.”
But last night Mr Toner said: “Though this is a setback for my family, we will continue to search for answers in the hope that someday we will have closure.”
Since the mystery was first reported, police have received scores of inquiries on missing persons.
Most Viewed News Stories
- 1147 homes set for the former Oldham Mumps railway station site
- 2Oldham’s 'Big Bang' Bonfire Night and fireworks event may be scrapped for good
- 3Drug gang kingpin and Failsworth associate jailed after detectives bring down criminal empire
- 4Council announces recruitment freeze after ‘serious concern’ over finances
- 5Dr Kershaw’s Hospice unites with Hindu temple with aim of improving care access