A couple had their “pride and joy” taken from them after they woke to discover their motorhome had been stolen.
Kieran McGonigle, 62, is a former Merseyside Fire and Rescue Service Watch Manager and served the people of Merseyside for 32 years.
After retiring six years ago, he chose to put his life savings towards buying him and his wife a motorhome to fulfil their dreams of travelling the world.
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The couple has spent the last few years exploring their dream destinations before returning to their home in New Brighton, Wirral.
After travelling all across Europe, including Spain, Portugal and France, Kieran and Elizabeth, 62, were planning their upcoming three-month trip to Italy until their motorhome was stolen on Tuesday, January 25.
Speaking to the ECHO, Kieran’s friend and former colleague at MerseyFire Simon Swann told the ECHO the couple woke up at their home on Hamilton Road to find their large white motorhome was no longer parked in front of their flat.
Simon said: “A couple of years ago Kieran spent his life savings on a motor home for him and his wife Liz to travel.
"They’ve gone to bed and when they’ve woken up it was gone.
“They love to travel and absolutely love having that facility to allow them to. That’s what he wanted to do and buy with his pension after serving the people of Merseyside.
“It’s their pride and joy.”
When they're not using the campervan to travel across the world, Kieran and Elizabeth often let their children make use of the vehicle for their own travels.
Kieran told the ECHO he and Elizabeth are both “absolutely gutted their pride and joy is stolen” but they are just “glad no one is hurt”.
Simon added: "I've got to say they are both so upset but credit to his history of helping people that they are just glad everyone is ok."
The motorhome, which was bought for around £60,000, is believed to have been taken between the hours of 10.30pm on Monday and 2pm on Tuesday.
Describing Kieran, known locally as Keo, as a ‘very popular man’, Simon said the community have pulled together to help Simon and Elizabeth reunite with their second home.
He added: “Kieran is one for the friendliest people I’ve ever met. He’d do anything for anyone and he’s always loved helping people, not just in work.
“He will always come back with stories from his campervan about the people he has met, he’s so sociable and just a proper gentlemen.
“What me and a few others have been doing is trying to keep an eye out for it and hope it's still local. The best resolution would be to get their pride and joy, their home, back.”
A spokesperson for Merseyside Police said: "At around 2.10pm on Tuesday 25 January officers were called to a report of stolen motor home in new Brighton..
"Officers carried out CCTV and witness enquiries in the area at the time of the incident."
The stolen vehicle is described as a white Eldiss Autoquest 155 and at the time it was stolen it had an Everton style number plate placed on the dashboard and the van's reg plate is 'NX18 EAA'.
Anyone with information on this incident should contact @MerPolCC, or @CrimestoppersUK on 0800 555 111.
