Family issue appeal for missing mentally ill man

The distraught family of an Irish man who disappeared after flying to London almost three weeks ago today issued a nationwide appeal for help in tracing him.

A massive manhunt was sparked after Ronan Baxter left his father’s home in Cork, where he has lived for the last 20 years, and travelled on a flight to Heathrow Airport.

The 39-year-old, who suffers from severe chronic depression complicated with paranoid schizophrenia, has not been seen since August 20. He was last spotted in the Bayswater area of west London.

But his family fear his condition is rapidly deteriorating as he has no medication with him.

The Metropolitan Police said they believe Ronan is still in the London area. His brother, Ciaran Baxter, travelled to the city this weekend to meet Inspector Rave Pillai of the Met’s missing persons bureau.

Mr Baxter said his family, in particular his 82-year-old father, had been torn apart with worry.

“This is after tearing my father asunder,” Mr Baxter said.

It is feared Ronan’s disappearance was sparked by a change in his medication at the beginning of the Summer. He has been treated by consultants for several years in the hope of easing his condition. Ronan was given a new course of drugs two months ago but it is feared they are to blame for his sudden disappearance.

The family also believe Ronan may have thought he was helping them by leaving the country.

“His attitude might well have been just to get out of the family’s way. He is very, very confused. It’s a huge worry,” he said.

“He is very, very quiet because he is suffering from depression. He would be very much on his own. He would not be socially active, particularly in strange settings.”

A massive manhunt was launched in Ireland after Ronan went missing on August 13. Following appeals through the media at home and in Britain it emerged he had boarded a flight to London arriving in Heathrow Airport.

His family said he was extremely unwell earlier this year and was admitted to Cork University Hospital for treatment.

Ronan is 5ft 11ins has brown hair, blue eyes and was not wearing his glasses. When last seen he was wearing a red or wine coloured jacket with a white stripe in the middle and navy lower section.

He had a white or cream fleece on under his jacket and was wearing navy plain tracksuit type pants and black casual shoes.