A GRIEVING mother has paid tribute to the support she has received since her son was found dead.
Ann Murphy said she and fellow family members have been inundated with cards and messages of sympathy since her son Michael’s body was found last month, almost a year after he was last seen.
Michael, 32, of Connah’s Quay, worked at the Convatec factory on Deeside Industrial Park.
Hundreds paid their last respects to Michael at his funeral at Pentrebychan Crematorium, Wrexham, earlier this month.
His family has now revealed fundraising campaigns to support three organisations involved in the search for Mr Murphy will continue as they thank the public for their support.
Mrs Murphy, of Mold, said: “I just want to say thanks to everybody for helping us through this difficult time.
“As a family we have got a hell of a lot of gratitude to the people of North Wales. There’s a lot of solid, down to earth people who will do everything to try and help you.
“It has been a very upsetting time for us but the good thing has been to see just how much Michael meant to so many people. They have been absolutely smashing.”
Mrs Murphy said a comfort to the family had been the number of amusing anecdotes they had been told involving her son, as friends fondly remembered the happiness Michael shared with people.
“We have heard many funny stories about him, which is nice,” she said. “If anybody has any memories they would like to share it would be nice to hear them.
“People say how much they miss him, that when he was around there was always banter and joking.
“That is what he was like. We miss him every day but it has been a comfort to know how popular he was.”
Michael left several other close family, including younger brother Jac and sister Joanna, and aunts Peggy Murphy, a lecturer at Glyndwr University, and Krista Childs, who represents Coedpoeth ward on Wrexham Council.
His popularity has been illustrated by more than 1,300 people joining a Gone But Not Forgotten group in his memory on the social networking website Facebook.
Mrs Murphy said more than £3,000 has so far been raised to be split between North East Wales Search and Rescue (NEWSAR), the Search and Rescue Dog Association (SARDA) and the RNLI.
As well as donations, fundraising events including cake sales at Glyndwr University have helped boost the total.
“You realise what a tremendous job they do,” she added.
“I want this fundraising to continue. They do extremely good jobs and we want to help them.
“There are a lot of people and organisations who have helped so much. It is very touching.”
Michael’s body was found washed up on the beach at West Kirby early last month.