Daily Post : Murdered Anglesey spy was a 'generous and loving' say family

Murdered Anglesey spy was a 'generous and loving' say family

by Our Correspondent, Daily Post | August 28, 2010

THE North Wales family of murdered British spy Gareth Williams last night paid tribute to a “generous, loving son, brother, and friend” as police continued to investigate the death of the GCHQ codes expert.

It came as Scotland Yard detectives revealed the 30-year-old was last seen alive in the capital on Sunday August 15 eight days before his decomposing body was found at his London home.

His relatives, who live in Valley, Anglesey, said in a statement: “Gareth was a generous, loving son, brother, and friend, and he was a very private person.

“He was a great athlete, and loved cycling and music.

“His loss has devastated us and we would ask that anyone with information to come forward and assist the police inquiry.”

The mathematics genius, who was on secondment to MI6, was found dead in a sports holdall in the bath of his Government flat on Monday.

A Scotland Yard spokesman said: “We can confirm that Mr Williams was in London from Wednesday August 11, and what officers believe is the last confirmed sighting of him still alive in London was on Sunday August 15.”

Investigators have begun picking through his private life amid claims linking him to a male escort and suggestions that bondage equipment had been found at his home.

In the statement released by police, Mr Williams’ family said the “speculation” had been “very distressing”.

Sources close to the investigation have rejected the claims.

Relative William Hughes, 62, a councillor on Anglesey, insisted there was no evidence the allegations are correct.

Mr Hughes, a cousin of Mr Williams’ mother, Ellen, said: “I have spoken to Gareth’s parents and they are not doing well at all.

“They are in a state of shock and struggling to come to terms with what has happened.

“They have seen what has been in the papers and they are very, very upset about these untruths. I don’t see any evidence of it.

“It never crossed my mind that Gareth was that sort of person. He left home at a young age and what happened in his private life was his business.

“It is heartbreaking that he has died so young and his family have enough on their plate without having to read these stories.”

Mr Hughes said it was possible the Government, or another agency, might be attempting to discredit Mr Williams.

Police turned their focus to Mr Williams’ private life after colleagues discovered his body and raised the alarm.

He was days from completing a one-year secondment to the headquarters of the Secret Intelligence Service, MI6, in Vauxhall, London.

He was due to return to a rented flat in Cheltenham where Government Communications Headquarters, GCHQ, is based.

It is understood Mr Williams also worked for the United States National Security Agency and made regular trips to Washington DC and Fort Meade, near Baltimore.

The mystery over his final hours deepened after a post-mortem examination failed to identify a cause of death.

A pathologist found Mr Williams was not stabbed or shot and there were no obvious signs of strangulation.

Police have refused to categorise the death as a murder, despite the bizarre circumstances and say he may have died innocently.

Officers believe Mr Williams’ body could have lain undiscovered for many days and are examining his mobile phone and financial records.