Burgess Hill family's plea after father and son's Malaga disappearance

Danny and Liam Poole went missing after travelling in Malaga in 2019 and, in 2022, the investigation into their disappearance was turned into a murder probe.

Now, in a renewed appeal around the pair’s birthdays, Danny and Liam’s family are calling for someone to “give our family the closure we need to move on from the sleepless nights”.

Danny’s daughter and Liam’s sister, Lauryn, said: “The pride my brother would have in being an uncle or watching my dad be a grandad are just a couple of the things that no daughter or sister should ever be deprived of.

Liam Poole (Image: Family Handout)

“Every day that goes by sees a thought pop into my head about what truly happened and what their last moments might have been like – these thoughts often keep me awake at night.

“I beg and pray that someone could give me and our family the closure we need to move on from the sleepless nights and that I can give an explanation to my dad and brother’s growing family one day.”

Danny and Liam, from Burgess Hill, had been travelling in Malaga when they went missing at the beginning of April 2019.

The father and son hired a grey Peugeot car in Spain but the car was never returned to the hire firm and was found abandoned by Spanish police.

Their luggage was left in their hotel with their passports.

(Image: Family Handout)

Danny, then 46, and Liam, then 22, would be 52 and 28 in the coming weeks.

In 2022, Sussex Police said they were treating their disappearance as a murder investigation.

Liam’s grandmother Kathy said the family are “constantly reminded of his absence” with his mother Lisa dying since the dissappearance, without finding out what happened to him.

Kathy added: “We as a family really need to know what happened to Liam and his dad. We are reminded constantly of Liam’s absence – every family gathering reminds us that not only is he missing, but we still have no answers.

“Liam’s mum Lisa sadly passed away without finding out what happened to him. We desperately need more information. We really are appealing to whoever knows what happened to come forward and give the police the information we need.

Liam Poole (Image: Family Handout)

“We will forever hold a place for Liam in our hearts. Please help our family get the closure we need.”

Sussex Police have now taken over primacy in the investigation from Spanish police and are offering a £10,000 reward for information.

Danny’s mother Jacqui and brother Laurence said: “Our appeal to anyone that has any information is to please come forward – please give us as a mum, grandmother, brother and uncle, the chance to wish them a happy heavenly birthday without the unbearable uncertainty of not knowing what’s happened to them.

“We go to bed at the end of each day not knowing if tomorrow will be the day we get the answers we need. If you know anything, please come forward and help us end this nightmare.”

Sussex Police DCI Simon Dunn said: “Although Danny and Liam went missing in Spain, we believe there are people in the UK who may hold vital information about their disappearance.

“We understand there may be some who have felt unable to come forward before now, but it’s not too late to do the right thing. Whether it’s something you know, or something you may have subsequently heard, we urge you to get in touch and share it with us. We will listen and we will investigate any viable new lines of enquiry.

“You may not appreciate the importance of the information you have, but it could be the piece of the puzzle we need to build the picture of what happened to Danny and Liam. Even the smallest detail could be significant in helping us provide their families with the answers they so desperately need and deserve.”

Information can be passed to police directly via the online Major Incident Public Portal (MIPP). You can also call 101 quoting Operation Pheasant, or report anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.