Police in Northern Ireland have offered assistance to Spanish police surrounding the disappearance of west Belfast man John George in Spain.
The father-of-two failed to return from a holiday in the country before Christmas and his family believe he has been murdered.
Hundreds of people attended a vigil last night in Twinbrook in west Belfast for Mr George, also known as John Hardy.
Mr George was on holiday in Allicante in Spain and his family last heard from him on 14 December. The alarm was raised four days later when he failed to get his flight home.
His family believe he was murdered and are now looking to recover his body.
A 50-strong team of family and friends from Belfast are in Spain at the moment searching the region around Cabo Roig beach near Allicante where Mr George was last seen.
Spanish police are continuing to treat the case as a disappearance and have not confirmed an official murder investigation at this stage.
In a statement, police in Northern Ireland said they have been liaising closely with Mr George’s family.
“Following a report to the Police Service of Northern Ireland on Wednesday, 18th December that a 37-year-old man from Belfast, holidaying in Spain, was missing the Police Service of Northern Ireland have been liaising closely with the missing man’s family and other law enforcement agencies. Dedicated Family Liaison Officers have been appointed to provide support to the family at this time.
“While the investigation must be progressed by Spanish police, the PSNI have made an offer of assistance to police in Spain and will assist with any local enquiries as requested by them.”
