Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
PAT’S BODY FOUND IN LAKE
Tip-off led police to spot where killers dumped dad
AN anonymous tip-off led police to the spot where a man’s body was dumped by his killers.
Pat Mccormick’s remains were pulled from a lake in Ballygowan, Co Down, just miles from where the dad of four was last seen alive on May 30.
His brother Harry said the family were “grateful to now have Pat home for our final goodbyes and burial”.
THE body of a murdered man was pulled from a lake just miles from where he was last seen alive almost six weeks ago.
Pat Mccormick, 55, was last seen on CCTV in Comber, Co Down, on May 30 and after initially being reported missing, police launched a murder enquiry.
Yesterday, police confirmed the man’s body had been recovered from a lake in the Ballygowan area following three days of searches.
These were prompted after a tip-off and now Det Chief Insp Pete Montgomery said he would like to speak to the person who provided the intelligence.
He added: “If that information came as a result of someone calling Crimestoppers I would like to thank that person and ask them if they want to speak to me directly. If not I will respect your position.
“I continue to appeal to anyone who has information about Pat’s murder. How he was killed and the motive form part of my investigation and for that reason I am unable to make any further comment.
“I am still keen to trace the movements of a blue Ford transit van, registration number JLZ 1672. It has distinctive silver wings at the front.”
It was seen on May 30 at 11.30pm heading countrybound on the Killinchy Road and again on May 31, in Comber in the car park at the back of Supervalu at 8.15am.
It was seen leaving at around 10.15am that day heading again countrybound on the Killinchy Road in the direction of Lisbane.
Later the same day, the van was seen in the Old Ballygowan Road heading in a countrywards.
Six people arrested in connection with the former Royal Irish Regiment soldier’s death were freed on police bail. Officers conducted 38 searches and spoke to 235 witnesses.
DCI Montgomery said Mr Mccormick’s phone, an iphone SE with a distinctive black and red cover, remains outstanding.
He added: “While finding Pat’s body brings an end to some of the distress caused to his family, they now want to see those responsible brought to justice.”
In a statement, Mr Mccormick’s brother Harry said the last six weeks had been “devastating for his parents, brothers, wife and his beautiful four children”.
He added they were “grateful to now have Pat home for our final goodbyes and burial”. Mr Mccormick said: “A massive thank you to everyone for their support and prayers, especially the public of Comber.
“As a family in mourning we would now ask for privacy. The PSNI are doing everything they can for us and Pat to get justice.”
His wife Alison added: “I would like to thank the Comber community for all their help and information that they have given police to help recover Pat. Myself and his four children are truly thankful.”
The dad, from Saintfield, Co Down, was last seen going through an archway in the Castle Street area of Comber. Officers had said they were trying to establish if he was in the flats on Castle Street.
DCI Montgomery would not be drawn on Mr Mccormick’s cause of death or the recovery of his body. A postmortem is being conducted.
I continue to appeal to anyone with information on Pat’s death
DCI PETE MONTGOMERY YESTERDAY