Nearly 20 years after a Co Down man’s disappearance, his father has said he will never give up his fight for answers.
Martin Kelly (22) from Holywood was last seen alive in Belfast on new year’s day, 2006, with what would have been his 40th birthday passing in March.
He had been watching a football match with friends in the now derelict Pat’s Bar near Belfast Harbour till just after 7pm.
The last known sighting was CCTV footage showing him walking along the riverside.
Despite extensive searches in the water, his remains have never been found.
Police have never confirmed any foul play in his disappearance, last issuing a witness appeal in 2020.
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His father Raymond Kelly told The Irish News he remains convinced his son did not die after drunkenly falling in the Lagan.
He strongly suspects he was murdered, or was at least facing some kind of intimidation from others that contributed to his death.
The case was previously referred to the Police Ombudsman in 2023.
Mr Kelly has specifically appealed for an individual who contacted the Missing People national helpline in June 2020 to reach out again.
The day before Martin went missing, New Year’s Eve 2005, he had drinks with friends in the Priory Inn in Holywood – where he also worked part time.
It is reported that two young women in the bar were overheard discussing “how two men were going to get Martin”.
A witness later claimed he had spoken to the same women in St Colmcille’s Church in Holywood, where they were praying for Martin after he was reported missing.
Mr Kelly said he understood the two young women had been German exchange students.
Mr Kelly also remains suspicious over reports that despite being offered a lift home, his son left Pat’s bar after taking a call from a borrowed phone.
“This is now the start of the 20th year that Martin has been gone,” he said.
He believes that witnesses in both the Priory and Pat’s Bar are still holding back information to this day, most likely because they are “petrified” of paramilitary intimidation.
“My position is this, Martin was murdered either directly or indirectly,” he said.
“If it was indirectly it was because of continuous worrying or psychological warfare against him,” speculating that it could have been a grievance against his son or a debt.
“People tell me to keep at it. As long as the story is still out there and making the people that know something miserable.”
He recalls a conversation with one senior police officer in the years following Martin’s disappearance.
“He asked ‘are you prepared to keep going? Remember this, you’ll be on your own. There’ll be no family members of friends supporting you, but listen to this. I cracked a case 18 years later, and it was through persistence that I finally got the lead’.”
