Missing Drummore couple’s family tell of heartache after two bodies found 10 miles apart in storm tragedy
Susan Kenneavy's sister Barbara Drake, 62, paid tribute to the “devoted” pair following the grim discoveries
A RELATIVE of missing storm couple James and Susan Kenneavy told of her heartache last night after two bodies were found.
Susan’s sister Barbara Drake, 62, paid tribute to the “devoted” pair following the grim discoveries 10 miles apart.
Search teams found a woman’s remains by the water’s edge at 8.15am in Port William, Wigtownshire. A man’s corpse was recovered along the coast half an hour later.
Distraught Barbara said: “If Heaven had a stairway I’d bring them back.
“It’s a big tragedy and a big shock. They were devoted to one another.
“They’ve gone too soon and they are going to be missed.
“It’s hard to put into words at the moment because I just can’t get my head around it.”
We told how rescuers feared James, 79, and Susan, 65, were “sucked out of their car” by 30ft waves as Storm Diana pounded the coast on Wednesday.
A major hunt was launched when workmen spotted their wrecked Ford Kuga on the beach between Stranraer and their home village Drummore the next day.
The couple’s next of kin were informed by police of the body finds but were too upset to comment last night.
Fears missing Drummore couple were ‘sucked out their car’ after wave swept them out to sea
Cops yesterday guarded the scenes as forensic experts combed for clues.
Formal identification is yet to take place but officers believe the bodies to be James and Susan.
The couple were together more than two decades and married in 2004.
Barbara told how former carer Susan flitted from Eastbourne, Sussex, after she met James, known as Jim.
And she revealed two of their dogs — a border collie and chihuahua cross — were with them when they vanished.
One pet is thought to have been found in the boot of their car.
Barbara said: “Susan was happy. We kept in touch and we’d talk about the weather and how the animals were. She loved it up there.
“She used to walk the dogs along the beach. She met Jim in about 2000 and moved up there to be with him.
“He was the love of her life. He was a lovely man.
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“When they got married they came to Eastbourne and had their honeymoon here with me.
“I will miss Susan and the talks we used to have.”
She also told how the “loyal couple” had supported their local community.
Barbara added: “They helped a lot of people in the village. Susan would help somewhere that needed painting, things like that.
“Or fundraising, helping out with anything that was needed.”
Barbara also paid tribute to the 40 mercy workers who looked for her loved ones.
The search included RNLI lifeboats, a Coastguard rescue helicopter and volunteers from the Galloway Mountain Rescue team.
She said: “I’d like to say thank you to all the rescue services and police that helped search for them.”
Reverend Chris Wallace, of the tragic couple’s local Kirkmaiden Parish, said prayers would be said for their families in church today.
He said: “The community are devastated. It’s difficult for everyone.”
A police spokeswoman said: “Formal identification has still to take place, but it is believed to be the missing couple. A report will be sent to the fiscal. Our thoughts are with their family at this time.”
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