'It's torture' - brother of missing Paula Elliott holding onto hope she's found

The brother of Paula Elliott, who vanished just over three weeks ago, says the painstaking search for his sister is like groundhog day.

The 52-year-old mother of three was last seen on Tuesday 5 March on CCTV cameras leaving the Sprucefield Court area of Lisburn at 5.30pm, before making her way to Warren Gardens at around 5.36pm.

From Warren Gardens, she was seen travelling along the Hillsborough Road at 5.39pm, driving a red Citroen C4 car, which was found a short time later parked near the Lagan Towpath.

“You don’t think it’s going to come to your door and when it does you think 24 hours she’ll be back, she’s only went to a party or something 48 hours you go maybe there’s something wrong,” Paula’s brother David Birney told UTV.

“It feels like 48 hours since she’s went missing but it’s been three weeks two days and I haven’t a clue where she is or what’s happened to her.

“It’s torture. Every day is like groundhog day. It’s an emptiness. It’s soul destroying.”

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