A man was placed under official investigation in Spain on Friday in connection with the homicide of Belfast man John George.
The man, who has not been named, appeared before a court in Alicante, then was bailed by a judge as the investigation continues.
Mr George’s body was found in Rojales on Tuesday, north of the town of Torrevieja, more than three weeks after he last made contact with his family back in Belfast. Family and many friends spent weeks in Spain searching for the 37-year-old Twinbrook man.
In a statement, the Valencian Community’s High Court of Justice said: “The head of Torrevieja’s Court of Instruction Number Two, acting as a duty court, has decided to release with precautionary measures the man arrested in relationship to the homicide of a northern Irish citizen whose body was discovered in Rojales on Tuesday.
“The decision was taken in accordance with the criteria of public prosecutors.
“The judge is currently attributing to him a crime of homicide as an accomplice or by aiding and abetting the crime.
“His bail conditions include the obligations to sign on at court every fortnight and hand in his passport and he is also banned from leaving Spain.
“The court will continue with investigations with the intention of fully solving this case.”
The court appearance took place as family members made their way back home. They arrived in Belfast International Airport to be greeted by a large crowd of supporters.
