THE heartbroken family of a woman who vanished more than six weeks ago have made an emotional appeal for her to come home while revealing for the first time that she has a brain injury.

Glasgow Times:

Julie Reilly, above, was first reported missing to police on February 15 after she failed to turn up for a hospital appointment.

Police Scotland then launched an investigation into her disappearance and their enquiries discovered the last CCTV sighting of the missing 47-year-old was at Aldi on Paisley Road West in Cardonald on February 6.

This week, officers returned to the scene to speak to the public in a bid to find clues as to the missing woman’s whereabouts.

Glasgow Times:

They were joined by her mother Margaret Hanlon and sister Lynne Bryce, above, who both appealed for anyone with information over the whereabouts of their much-loved Julie to come forward.

Margaret, 69, who is from from Auchinleck in Ayrshire, said: “Julie sent me a text on Christmas day saying, ‘Merry Christmas’ and that was the last I heard from her.

“She was the type who would not phone for you months and then all of a sudden phone you.

“I think it is taking an awfully long while to find her, that is the problem. I thought she would have turned up before now, I don’t know what to think. I kind of think she will turn up, I hope so.

“It is the not knowing and the fact no one has seen her.”

Lynne, 36, who is also from Auchinleck, added: “For her to be at the supermarket one minute, and then just disappear – that is not Julie.

“It is just no Julie, she would have showed up well before now.”

The family revealed that Julie, who is originally from Auchinleck but now lives in Shieldhall Road, Govan, had been recovering from a brain injury.

It is unclear how Julie developed the injury but she spent several months in the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital before she moved to the Graham Anderson House which is a specialist neurobehavioural assessment and post-acute rehabilitation hospital.

During this time, Julie, who previously lived in Penilee, kept in touch regularly with her family, speaking to her mum on the phone most days.

Margaret said: “Her mind wasn’t very good when I saw her at the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital but she gradually was getting better at the Graham Anderson House.

“The last I heard from her was December then I got a phone call on February 15 from a hospital saying that Julie hadn’t kept an appointment.

“It was this call which raised the alarm with concerned NHS staff contacting Police Scotland to ask them to make sure Julie was okay.

Since that moment, mum-of-three Margaret has been left devastated over not knowing where her daughter is.

She said: “I am not sleeping and I am hardly eating. I don’t go anywhere, and I don’t like going down the street in case people stop and ask me things. I couldn’t handle it.”

The family explained that Julie had a difficult past in her previous hometown and had moved to Glasgow more than 15 years ago.

Margaret said: “I have always stood by Julie when no one else did. I used to come up to Glasgow and wouldn’t tell anyone I was away.

“I just want her to come home. Julie knows I love her, she knows that.”

Lynne added: “If she doesn’t want to phone, she can write a letter to let us know she is safe and alright. We understand if she doesn’t want to come back that’s fine.”

The family believe the community in the South West of the city could help them find their Julie.

Lynne has been actively sharing her sister’s missing person poster on social media groups connected to the Govan area in a bid to get Julie’s face in the spotlight.

She was known to frequent Aldi and charity stores in the area.

Margaret added: “She will be well known in the community because she will talk to anybody.

“She is quite forward at talking people.”

Julie, who is on daily medication, is described as white, 5ft, of medium build and she has dyed blonde hair.

She was last seen wearing a pink jacket, jeans and aqua coloured trainers.

Julie has also previously been known to use the surnames Hanlon, Martin and Collins.

Timeline of Julie's disappearance:

December 25:

Julie sent a text message to her mother on Christmas Day to wish her a 'Merry Christmas'. This was the last family contact with the missing woman.

February 6:

Police enquiries revealed that the last CCTV sighting of missing Julie was at Aldi supermarket on Paisley Road West in Cardonald. A CCTV image of Julie was also verified by staff working at the store who knew the missing woman.

February 15:

NHS staff raised the alarm that Julie was missing after she failed to attend an appointment. She had never missed an appointment prior to this.

March 20:

Police Scotland officers carried out an operation outside the Aldi store in Cardonald. They spoke to members of the public and asked them when they last saw Julie.

Glasgow Times:

What are Police Scotland doing to find her?

POLICE Scotland have made it their priority to find missing Julie.

Inspector David Lammie, above, who is based at Govan Police Station, explained that officers have gathered intelligence from financial institutions and other agencies in their search.

This revealed that Julie's travel pass had not been used since early February.

They have learned that Julie often frequented Glasgow City Centre, and her missing person poster has been dispersed within the voluntary third sector and support networks.

Inspector Lammie said: "It is very much a missing person enquiry, at no point throughout the weeks has there been anything sinister mentioned.

"We have used all the resources and assets that we can to find Julie, and that is our priority.

He added: "We have had a number of sightings reported to us but sadly when we have looked into those sightings there have been genuinely helpful but they have not turned out to be Julie."

Glasgow Times:

In their latest operation to find Julie, dozens of officers took part in a stop and speak operation in Cardonald on Tuesday outside the Aldi supermarket where she was last seen on CCTV.

Glasgow Times:

How can you help?

THE national charity Missing People launched a poster to help find Julie.

Anyone who has information about her whereabouts can contact them if they do not wish to speak to Police Scotland.

The charity's appeal states: "Julie we are here for you whenever you are ready; we can listen; talk you through what help you need, pass a message for you and help you to be safe."

You can contact Missing People if you have information about Julie's whereabouts by calling or texting 116 000.

This number is free and confidential, and it operates 24 hours a day.

You can also e-mail 116000@missingpeople.org.uk or write to FREEPOST Missing People.

Police Scotland can also be contacted if you have information which could help find Julie.

Contact Govan Police Office via 101, quoting incident number 2057 of Thursday February 15 2018. Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Read more on Missing People: