THE devastated family of a Glasgow man whose body was found six months after his disappearance have paid tribute to the 'one in a million' dad.
Barry McCullagh was discovered by police after they were called to Old Patrick Water in Elderslie at around 6.15pm on Sunday.
His tearful sister Stacey today spoke of her heartbreak at the loss of her brother, who vanished after leaving the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Paisley on October 5 last year.
Speaking exclusively to the Glasgow Times, the 38-year-old said: “For over half a year my family have endured the torture of not knowing where Barry was.
“Hearing that his body had been found was the news we were all dreading - we just can’t believe we will never see him again.
“He touched so many lives and would go out of his way to help anyone in need. He had the biggest heart and always put others ahead of himself. He was a much-loved son, dad and brother and was never without a smile on his face. He had so much ahead of him and so much to live for, we just can’t believe he is gone and we don't know why.
“Knowing we will never see him or hear him laugh again has torn our world apart. We always hoped that Barry would come home safe and now that has been taken away. Our family is numb with grief, our lives will never be the same again.”
The dad-of-two from Castlemilk had been admitted to hospital after suffering from seizures. His family said that he was receiving treatment and appeared in good spirits before he was seen walking out of the RAH's front doors.
Barry was then spotted heading towards the Lonsdale pub in Paisley, an area he is unfamiliar with. He was never seen again, despite shattered family members conducting their own daily searches in a bid to find the 41-year-old.
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It’s the second tragedy to hit the family in a short space of time after sibling Brian, 42, passed away just 13 days after his brother vanished.
Stacey, who is also from Castlemilk, said: “Our family has been through so much pain and now my mum has to cope with losing another son.
“Her heart is broken into tiny pieces.
“We lost our brother Brian when his health suddenly deteriorated. He passed away less than two weeks after Barry's disappearance and we never imagined we’d be in this situation again so soon."
The family today thanked those who helped in the search for Barry and say they have been moved by the number of touching tributes.
Stacey added: “Barry was very popular and got on with everyone. He was just a thoroughly decent bloke and full of fun.
“We have been reading the tributes left on social media by those who knew him and each and every one has been lovely. Barry was clearly well-loved by so many and we’d like to thank everyone who took the time to help us over the last six months.
“It was completely out of character for him to go missing, in fact, he rarely left Castlemilk. He was always happy-go-lucky, never a bother to anyone and never had any real problems, so it is agony not knowing why this has happened. There is no sense in it.
"Barry doted on his kids, family was everything to him. We expected him home from the hospital once he was feeling better. We never imagined it would be the last time we would see him."
Stacey and the family will now begin to plan Barry’s funeral - and are determined to give him the send-off he deserves.
She added: “When the police told us that they had found his body it was a shock. We never gave up hope that one day he would come back home but now that’s gone.
READ MORE: Family's agony over disappearance of Castlemilk man Barry McCullagh
“The uncertainty of the last six months has been awful, so at least we finally have a bit of closure. We all just wish the final outcome had been different."
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Around 6.15pm on March 26, police were called to a report of the body of a man in Old Patrick Water, Elderslie.
"Officers and emergency services are at the scene and enquiries are ongoing.
“Although formal identification has yet to take place, the family of Barry McCullagh, who has been missing since Wednesday, October 5, have been informed."
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