A friend of tragic Alexandria man Justin Conroy has launched a fundraising appeal to help his heartbroken family.

Jacqui Morrow, who has lived across the road from Justin and his family for more than 10 years, has set up a Go Fund Me page in memory of the young man.

The 24-year-old’s body was discovered in the River Clyde on October 6 – two weeks after he was reported missing.

Police said the discovery happened at around 10.25am near the Kingston Bridge in Glasgow following agonising searches by Justin’s family and friends throughout the city.

Neighbour Jacqui decided to raise money to help Justin’s parents Pat and Fiona Conroy and his brother Shaun.

The mum-of-two said: “I live across the street with my husband and 16-year-old son. My other son who’s 29 knew the boys really well.

“Being neighbours I have watched Justin grow up from when he was very young – we are all absolutely heartbroken.

“Unfortunately you don’t see your neighbours the way people used to in the past but we always knew them and had many fond memories.

“Their other next-door neighbours have also been in and out of the house all the time offering them support.

“I thought it would be nice to do something to help and I spoke to them about setting up a Go Fund Me Page.

“They would never have asked me to do it but I thought it was something we could do to help.”

After seeing the missing person report on social media, Jacqui rushed over to the family’s house to offer her support.

She said: “I was involved in the searches for Justin. We waited for police to find CCTV but also started thinking about putting a search together.

“I kept in contact with them every day and we went up to Glasgow to conduct searches.

“We went round the homeless units to see if anyone had seen him and his brother Shaun took a search down at the Broomielaw.

“We had to make sure we covered as much of the area as possible.

“I also put together a flyer which we shared around.

“I had been away later in the week and found out on the Saturday when I was back that his body had been found.

“As soon as I got home I went over to the family and it has just been horrific for them.”

Justin’s parents Fiona and Pat Conroy described their son as “a positive boy who always looked on the bright side.”

They said Justin was a keen football fan who enjoyed playing video games and cooking.

In a statement released before he was found, they said: “We miss his jokes about the dishwasher, his comments about his dad being nosy and telling his mum how lovely her hair is.

“We share a lot as a family and always tried to sit down together for dinner.

“There was always plenty of banter flowing and we would talk about what we’d all done that day.”

The Go Fund Me appeal has already raised £730 with a target of reaching £1000.

Jacqui, who works in the Vale of Leven Hospital, said: “We have been going round the different departments in the hospital and trying to get as many people from the community to contribute.

The page reads: “There are no words to describe how truly devastated and heartbroken his family and friends are.”

Jacqui continued: “I would like to show the Conroy family that they are in our thoughts and to let them know just how special Justin was to so many people and that the deepest of sympathies are felt for them at this extremely difficult and sad time of their lives.”

If you would like to contribute to the Go Fund Me Page visit: www.gofundme.com/in-memory-of-justin-conroy