Chris Dobney
Police believe two boys missing from their Tweed Heads home since Sunday are alive and that someone in the community knows where they are.
That was the message of a media conference at Tweed Heads police station this morning, where acting superintendent Shane Cribb again called for members of the public who have seen or know the whereabouts of 14-year-old Jayden Brady and his 11-year-old brother Joseph to please come forward.
The brothers, who are two of five siblings, went missing from their Tweed Heads home around 3am on Sunday morning.
Their 38-year-old father Daniel Brady who presented to Byron Bay police station on another matter on Monday, was arrested and held overnight for breaching the terms of an apprehended violence order (AVO).
He was released on bail after appearing at Lismore Local Court yesterday, despite police saying he was ‘not helping with their inquiries’, provided he stayed at his Mullumbimby address.
Acting supt Cribb said Mr Brady’s had the AVO taken out against him ‘as a result of a domestic dispute’.
He added the his current whereabouts were ‘subject to investigation’ and he could not comment ‘at this stage’.
The Gold Cost Bulletin reported in August that Mr Brady had run into the surf at Palm Beach on the Gold Coast to avoid police who were pursuing him on outstanding warrants. He was subsequently arrested after police pursued him on jet skis.
While saying ‘we’re keeping all options open’, acting supt Cribb said, ‘my inclination is that someone out there knows what’s happened and that’s why we’re encouraging those people to come forward.
‘If those people don’t, we’re encouraging the public to come forward and tell us if they’ve seen anything or know anything, Australia-wide,’ he said.
He added he did not think rumours the boys were being shielded by a ‘cult’ were accurate.
Both boys are described as being described as being of Caucasian appearance, between 120cm to 140cm tall, with thin build, brown hair and eyes.
Acting supt Cribb said the boys ‘had gone missing before, about a year ago, but were found safe and well.
‘But as with any 11-year-old or 14-year-old child that’s not at their rightful home address, there’s always going to be concerns,’ he said.
Jayden and Joseph have two younger and one older siblings.
‘They are not the only kids in the family but they’re the only kids at the moment that we’re concerned about,’ acting supt Cribb said.
Anyone who sees them or believes they know their whereabouts is urged to contact Triple Zero ‘000’ immediately.
They were also ripped away from their siblings. They were taken away from the eldest brother, two little sisters and baby brother. What sort of a system takes happy children away from their mother AND father AND BROTHERS AND SISTERS.