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Arrest after body found in search for missing Belfast man

Family handout John George is smiling into the camera. He's wearing a black cap, with a design on it, and a navy top and a checked scarf.Family handout
John George had been due to board a flight home on 18 December

The family of missing Belfast man John George, also known as John Hardy, have said his body has been found in Spain.

Spanish police said a 32-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Formal DNA identification is due to take place, but it is understood through clothing and tattoos, that Mr George's family believe it is the 37-year-old who has been missing since 14 December.

The family's solicitor, Kevin Winters, said the missing man's father, Billy George, received a call from Spanish police at about 17:00 on Tuesday to tell them that Mr George's remains had been recovered.

A map of the coast of Spain showing the locations of Benidorm, Alicante and Rojales

Remains found at Rojales

According to reports by Spanish media, a body was discovered among some trees on a farm at Rojales, about 45 minutes south of Alicante.

Police said they were "conducting the necessary steps" to identify a body, found on Tuesday.

Family handout John George wearing a green t-shirt and smiling at the camera. He has short light hair. Family handout
The family of John George had been in Spain looking for him over the Christmas and New Year period

In a statement, Mr Winters said: "The family are both distressed, but also relieved at this latest news.

"It brings to an end an extremely torturous search process for the body."

There will now be a post-mortem examination to discover how he died.

Mr George's family will formally identify the body on Wednesday, Mr Winters told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster programme.

Mr Winters said he understood that "one arrest is not necessarily conclusive".

Mr George was last in touch with his family on 14 December when he drove from Alicante to Benidorm.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said it had been "liaising closely with the missing man's family and other law enforcement agencies".

Members of the Northern Ireland-based K9 Search and Rescue NI, an all-volunteer canine search and rescue team, also travelled to Spain to help with search but returned at the weekend.

Family handout/PA Wire Four people are looking into the camera. The man on the left has a ginger beard and is wearing a dark t-shirt. Beside him is a blonde-haired woman wearing a green strappy dress and smiling into the camera. She has large square-shaped diamante earrings. Another blonde woman is bedside her. She is also smiling and is wearing a white strappy dress. John George is on the right of the picture. He is wearing a pink short sleeved t-shirt with a navy collar.Family handout/PA Wire
Siblings Darren, Courtney, Caitlyn and John George (far right)

Murder investigation under way

Mr Winter said Mr George's family wanted to thank all who have helped and supported them over the last number of days.

He added: "They now respectfully ask for some privacy to allow them both time and space to engage on the next harrowing stages on what is now a formalised murder investigation."

Sinn Féin MP for Belfast West Paul Maskey has expressed condolences to the family.

He said he has been in close contact with the family.

The PSNI said they had been made aware of the discovery of a body in Spain on Tuesday.

A spokesperson said: "My thoughts are, first and foremost, with Mr George's family at this distressing time.

"Our dedicated family liaison officers continue to provide support to the family, and we continue to work closely with international law enforcement agencies."