Danny Hathaway

A retired vicar from south Shropshire today pleaded with his son’s killer to reveal where he disposed of the body.

Kenneth Hathaway said his family would face a “lifetime of uncertainty” and be unable to grieve properly until the remains of son Danny had been recovered.

The 44-year-old disappeared from a travellers’ site in Corby, Northamptonshire, in 2007.

Last May Tony Holland, 23, was convicted of murdering the father-of-two and another man, Bill O’Connor, 20, from Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, in April 2007.

Holland, of Desborough, Northants, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum of 35 years by Ipswich Crown Court.

Despite extensive inquiries police have never found Danny Hathaway’s body but at an inquest yesterday deputy coroner Rodney Haig ruled he was unlawfully killed.

Kenneth Hathaway, of Church Stretton, said: “The matter is not closed for us because we have not found his body.

“The police have spoken to the man who was convicted of his murder, but as he denies he was involved they have not had any information.

“We need to find his body so we can grieve properly.

“This man has not only destroyed a wonderful person and taken the life of a loving son, brother, partner and father of two small children, he has sentenced us to a lifetime of uncertainty and questions.”

Kenneth Hathaway

The inquest in Kettering heard Danny Hathaway had last been seen on February 7 by long-term partner Diane.

It is believed he had arranged to meet someone to look at some land he hoped to buy to build a home for his family to settle.

The family was due to go on a skiing holiday the following day, but Mr Hathaway never came home.

Detective Sergeant Rankin McCarrick told the inquest a Ford Transit van was found with blood stains matching Mr Hathaway’s DNA profile.

In March this year the Ministry of Justice ruled an inquest could be carried out despite the lack of a body.

Coroner Mr Haig said: “I am satisfied from the evidence that has been given that Danny Hathaway is indeed dead, that he died sometime after February 7, 2007 at a place unknown.”

By Sophie Bignall