Video released by RCMP in Owen Rooney case
By Mona Mattei
Parents of missing 24-year-old Australian Owen Rooney filed a complaint with Interior Health Authority questioning the adequacy of his care and the hospital’s risk management of the situation while RCMP continue their efforts to locate the man. RCMP released video footage today to once again ask the public for help to find Rooney who has been missing for nearly three months and was last seen in Grand Forks, B.C.. In the meantime, his parents, Sharron and Steve Rooney have also launched a complaint with the hospital. “I spoke to the internal liaison for Interior Health,” said Sharron. “It was just whether his care was adequate for the situation at the time, and the risk management – whether it was correct for the type (of situation). I haven’t got any answers yet. I’m not surprised.” Sharron, and her husband have been in Canada for months along with their two daughters to attempt to find their son including efforts to work with media. “We’ve tried to contact newspapers from Grand Forks to Vancouver,” said Sharron Rooney. “It’s very wide across the internet and we’ve started to think towards Alberta now too.” Owen had a girlfriend from Grande Prairie, explained Sharron, and when they received his phone records just last week they found he had been texting her just before going missing. While there are no new leads in the Rooney’s continued search efforts in the disappearance of their son, who was last seen at the Boundary Hospital in Grand Forks on Aug. 14, Cpl. Dan Moskaluk, RCMP communications officer, explained that the new video, was done to try yet another way to reach the public. “We’ve received tremendous support from all the media across the province in respect to this file,” said Moskaluk. “In doing a video format it will give it another format to get the information out again. This allows us to use our media sites to have the video up there for a lengthy period of time. This repackages it and keeps the search in the headlines and hopefully in that format it might jog somebody’s memory.” The local search efforts have been continuous throughout the time Rooney has been missing including aerial searches of highways and waterways, ground searches, poster campaigns, as well as the use of media, explained Moskaluk. Sharron said that the situation has been very difficult for the family. “We’re a long way from home. It’s lucky that there’s four of us here. I think we all stir each other on at times. Different people hit different walls at different times, but the girls are just as determined as Steven and I, and his brother in Australia is just as determined as well.” RCMP first encountered Rooney in August they offered to take him to the hospital for treatment of a head injury as he had admitted he had been in a fight but did not want police involvement. Rooney asked instead to be taken to the bus depot to make his way home to Kelowna. He actually bought a bus ticket and got on the bus before stepping off again. He then went to the hospital where he was treated overnight. It was the next day that he disappeared leaving behind his personal belongings. According to the RCMP, Rooney was living in Kelowna at the time of his disappearance and was gainfully employed. RCMP inquiries have included all businesses and community agencies throughout the Kootenay and Boundary area along Highway 3 and Highway 33 and into Kelowna. Rooney was alleged to have been in a fight in Christina Lake and the RCMP are investigating the altercation. “We have spoken to those parties there. At this time there is a criminal investigation open as it relates to the incident itself as it was part and parcel of him going missing,” said Moskaluk. The RCMP has sought the assistance of external national and international agencies which include such agencies as Child Find Canada and Interpol. These external agencies will assist the RCMP in disseminating information Canada wide and abroad. Harrison said that there has been no evidence that Rooney has left the country. Owen Rooney is described as 5’9″ and 160 lbs, very short brown hair, with bruising on his face. He was last seen wearing a dark T-shirt and 3/4 shorts. RCMP ask the general public to take note of the posters of Owen Rooney that have been distributed and posted in various communities and are requesting that anyone who may have seen Owen Rooney to contact the Grand Forks Office at 250-442-8288, their local police services or via Crimestoppers at 1-800-222-8477.
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