Last month, Nunan's mother, Maura, contacted Spanish investigators with new information. She recalled a conversation with her son shortly before he disappeared, in which he described witnessing two men sexually abusing children in a field on a hill in broad daylight on 18 August.
Family of Missing Irish Sailor Suspects He Was Targeted After Witnessing Child Abuse in Gran Canaria
The family of James "Jemsie" Nunan, a 34-year-old sailor who disappeared last August during a round-the-world voyage, believes he may have been targeted after seeing children being abused on the island of Gran Canaria.
Nunan, who held an Irish passport despite living in Colchester, UK, was sailing with his dog Thumbelina when he vanished. One of the last confirmed sightings was on CCTV on 18 August 2025, at a kebab shop in Gran Canaria, where his backpack was stolen while he was inside ordering food. The next day, he reported his missing passport to police.His boat, Kehaar, was later discovered adrift about 80km off the south coast of Gran Canaria and towed to port.
Thumbelina was found safe on board, but there was no trace of Nunan. Spanish authorities have largely treated the case as a possible accident, suggesting Nunan may have been drunk and fallen overboard. However, his family strongly disputes this and points to suspicious signs on the boat, including a disturbance, missing personal items, knife cuts in the sails, and blood splatters.
Last month, Nunan's mother, Maura, contacted Spanish investigators with new information. She recalled a conversation with her son shortly before he disappeared, in which he described witnessing two men sexually abusing children in a field on a hill in broad daylight on 18 August.
He was deeply disturbed that people nearby seemed to treat it as normal behaviour. Nunan reportedly told his mother he wanted to leave the island immediately because of "sick individuals" there, but had to wait for suitable tides. He planned to sail late on 19 August or on 20 August at the latest.
His family now fears he may have been seen by the men and silenced as a result.His aunt, Joan Davis, said the family only recently connected the dots after Maura reflected on their last conversations. She described the ongoing situation as an unending nightmare, noting that despite multiple trips to Gran Canaria, they have made little progress.
The family is calling for Spanish police to reopen the case as an active investigation, insisting a proper probe was never carried out.
While they hold little hope that James is still alive, they want his remains brought home for burial. The case technically remains open but is no longer being actively pursued.