A GLASGOW businessman’s emotional plea to help find a homeless man’s family has gone viral as he urges the public to “save a life this Christmas.”

Kieran Cannon set Facebook alight with the story of a homeless man he met in Glasgow City Centre last week.

Kieran said the man, Jonny, has been homeless since being divorced over a year ago - but his family, now in London, doesn’t know the extent of his problems.

In an impassioned post on Facebook, Kieran described how he was looking to reach Jonny’s family after he sat with him in Glasgow Green.

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He said the man was 61-year-old Jonny Kerrshaw from Greenock.

Kieran added: “Up until last year, he owned a car repair garage in Greenock but lost it in a divorce.

“He has been homeless for over a year after his divorce to the woman he spent over 30 years with. He loved her so much, he gave up everything and signed it over to her. That left him penniless and homeless.

“He has four kids (three boys between the ages of 25 and 36, and one girl aged 28).

“His children moved to London a few years back and they don’t know he is homeless. Whenever he calls them to check they are okay, and to speak to his grandkids, he lies and tells them everything is fine. His ex-wife also moved to London last year as well, so he has no family left.

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“I don’t have a clue how I’m going to pull this off, but he’s too proud to tell them about his situation. If it was my dad, I would want to know, I’m sure you would too.

Please help - if anyone in Greenock knows the name or the names of any of his children, I just need to message them.

“He doesn’t drink or take drugs and refuses to sleep in a homeless shelter. Every night, he pitches up a tent in Glasgow Green and that is his home.

“This guy is one in a million and I want to do anything I can to help. I’m meeting him again on Thursday so I will try to get a picture.”

The post gathered a staggering 20,000 shares and 6,000 reactions, with thousands of people commenting.

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After going to meet the man two days later, Kieran updated his followers and said: “I went into town tonight to meet Jonny and he didn’t show. I walked around to look for him but he was nowhere to be seen. I met Mick on the corner near where Jonny usually sits and ended up sitting with him. Don’t worry - I’m not putting another post out there to appeal for help because Mick’s mum and dad died nine years ago. That’s when his life turned upside down.

“Now he drinks from dawn til dusk to escape his current reality. He’s a qualified painter and decorator, but just lost his way in life. He has nothing and no-one.

“I try never to give money, just a listening ear and helping hand, but tonight I really connected with Mick like I did with Jonny. I asked him would he take the night off begging to rest his body and his mind if I gave him £20. He burst into tears. I burst into tears. He cuddled me and promised he was going to change his life. I didn’t ask for that promise, but I helped him find it within himself.

“Don’t judge until you have sat down at their level and listened. These past few weeks have changed my life.”

In a final, emotional plea to his followers, Kieran said: “Save a life this Christmas.”