Matthew McCallan's mother 'haunted' since teenager's death in December 2022

The mother of a teenage boy found dead after a night out in Co. Tyrone last December says she is "haunted" by his death.

The body of Matthew McCallan was discovered in a ditch a few miles from Fintona two days after he attended a music event in the town.

His Mum, Frances McCallan, told UTV Matthew’s tragic loss has had a devastating impact on their tight knit family.

She said Matthew was "the centre of my world….the reason I got up in the morning…. everything I did, I did for Matthew."

Matthew McCallan died of hypothermia. 

He went missing during the early hours of 3 December after attending an country music concert in Fintona. 

The teenager was allowed to go because he had been booked on a bus to bring him back to Dungannon and had also arranged a lift home

Frances said that she immediately knew something was wrong when she received a phone call telling her Matthew wasn’t on the bus home.

Thinking about Matthew’s final hours have had a deep effect on her.

“I’m haunted. I’m haunted by my child walking around the roads of Fintona.

"And somehow, and I still don’t know how, he ended up in that ditch. And he fell asleep. And he never came home.”

Frances hopes an ongoing investigation will establish the full facts surrounding Matthew’s dead. 

A fundraising tractor run has been organised for Matthew’s birthday. 

He would've turned 16 on March 12th.

The route from Carrickmore, where his Dad Peter is from, to Dungannon has been organised in tribute to a 15 year old who loved tractors and the countryside 

It’s in memory of a boy who went for night out but never came home.

Want a quick and expert briefing on the biggest news stories? Listen to our latest podcasts to find out What You Need To Know.