The father of a British football fan on the Malaysia Airlines flight has said he hopes his son is not lying somewhere “where there would be nobody to give him a cuddle”.
Barry Sweeney, whose son Liam, 28, was on Flight MH17 along with fellow Newcastle United fan John Alder, said he has now stopped watching the news because he finds it so upsetting.
Speaking to ITV’s Good Morning Britain, the 52-year-old father of seven, who cares for his terminally-ill wife Lesley, said he just hoped all 298 victims were taken home.
“Without going into politics because I think the Government have to sort that out, I just want them basically to bring the 298 people who need to be brought home for this to close,” he said.
“I have seen a little bit of the news, I try to stop watching it only because it is upsetting, especially when you see body bags. But I’m hoping Liam is in one of those because I don’t want him to be lying somewhere where there’s nobody there to give him a good cuddle.”
Mr Sweeney said the family were struggling to comprehend what had happened to Liam.
“My wife — who was Liam’s stepmum — and my ex-wife, who I spoke to yesterday, they’re in bits. They just can’t comprehend what’s happened. I think I’m getting through it because I can talk to people. As long as I’m talking, I’m fine; when I stop, the tears come.”
