A murder investigation was launched on Tuesday following the discovery of the body of John George, weeks after he disappeared in Alicante, Spain.
The discovery of the body after a tip-off to Spanish police ends weeks of an “extremely tortuous” process of searching for a loved one.
The George family, many of whom flew out to Spain to take part in the search, were “distressed but relieved” as it ended weeks of anguished searching.
It has been reported that police in Spain have arrested a man in connection with Mr George’s death.
The 37-year-old’s body was found yesterday afternoon. While the search for Mr George centred on the Cabo Roig beach areas south of Torrevieja, a town in Alicante, there were local reports his remains were found some distance away in the same area.
Mr George’s father Billy last spoke to his son on December 14, four days before he was due to fly home. But the father-of-two never boarded the flight.
“We can confirm the father of Mr George contacted us today shortly after 5pm (UK time) to confirm Spanish police told him they had recovered his son’s remains,” KRW Law said in a statement on the family’s behalf.
“Mr Billy George was told that his son’s body was now in a morgue awaiting formal identification,” the statement continued.
“The family are both distressed but also relieved at this latest news. It brings to an end an extremely tortuous search process for the body.
“The family want to thank all who have helped and supported them over the last number of days.
“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.”
Details of how the remains were finally discovered remained unclear on Tuesday night.
It was a distressed December 14 phone call to his father that first raised the fears of his family. The unusual failure to make contact over the following days heightened those fears.
Two days after December 18, members of the family, including father Billy, flew out to Spain. Dozens followed to help in the search, though from an early stage, several believed he had been murdered.
Back home, vigils were organised, including one attended by hundreds of people at St Luke’s Church in Twinbrook, Mr George’s home area.
While Spanish police, La Guardia Civil officially was carrying out what was described as a missing person’s investigation, the deeply suspicious circumstances of his disappearance cemented the belief there was a slim chance he would be found alive.
“This is all linked to back home. We were told as soon as we got out here that John had been killed, that he had been shot,” his brother Darren told the Irish News during the search operation.
“John was lured here on false information to meet friends on a holiday. John was lured over here to be shot dead.
“John was led over here, he thought he was coming over here for a few days and would be home after that. But John’s not coming home alive.
“They know if they shot him dead back in Belfast it would be more difficult for them to get away with it,” he said.
“But they don’t realise the support that John has back home. I don’t think they realised the amount of people that care about him.”
A support Facebook page, ‘Let’s Find John George’, reported 54.000 members.
While family and friends searched in Spain and many others supported back home, there was much speculation and accusations over what happened to Mr George, also known as John Hardy, and who was responsible.
The focus centred on several individuals known to have been with the Belfast man during his days in Spain. One 19-year-old Belfast woman took to TikTok to deny any involvement in his disappearance.
Protests were held outside various houses and other premises in Belfast, including when a large group of people a Shore Road last Saturday night. Police were called, twice closing the road to ensure the safety of people.
While a formal identification had not yet happened by Tuesday evening, police at an early stage following the discovery of the remains knew it was Mr George from his clothes and tattoos.
The PSNI said it would assist Spanish police during the investigation.
