Fresh appeal over disappearance of two Belfast boys in 1969

Police in Northern Ireland have renewed an appeal for information about the 1969 disappearance of two Belfast boys, David Leckey and Jonathan Aven. The case is being reviewed by the Police Service of Northern Ireland's legacy investigation branch as an open missing persons inquiry, with the circumstances of their disappearance still unexplained.

David Leckey, 11, disappeared after leaving Memel Street in east Belfast, and his family said they had 'no indication that he was unhappy or in trouble of any kind and didn't think he would ever have left home' when he went missing. Jonathan Aven, 14, went missing from Sydenham Drive and was described by his father as a 'happy little boy' who attended Ashfield Boys, 'which he seemed to like and appeared to be doing well at'.

Det Insp Armstrong said more than 50 years have now passed since both David and Jonathan went missing, and their families have suffered over these years not knowing what happened to them on the day they left their home addresses. The pain and suffering of not knowing throughout the years must be unimaginable, he said. This remains an open missing persons case with the circumstances around their disappearance still unexplained.

Detectives are reviewing all investigative opportunities and will follow every line of enquiry, including any potential criminal offences that may be linked to their disappearance. They are aware of reports that the boys may have taken a train to Bangor prior to their disappearance and would be keen to hear from anyone who may have encountered the boys in any circumstances or location over the past 56 years.

If anyone has any information in relation to the disappearance of David and Jonathan we would ask them to contact the legacy investigation branch.