Appeal Over Park Body Find

A post mortem will be carried out today on the body of a man found dead in a stream in east Belfast.

Police have also appealed for anyone with information to contact them.

The shock discovery sparked a large police investigation after a member of the public made the grim find in a local park at around 8.30am yesterday.

The remains were lying in water near the entrance to Moat Park on the Upper Newtownards Road, opposite the Ulster Hospital.

Forensics teams sealed off large parts of the historic park - constructed around an ancient rath - or moat - while PSNI officers guarded the scene.

The man was found wearing dark trousers and a brown jacket and had red hair.

Officers said yesterday afternoon there were no further details of how he died.

Local MP Iris Robinson warned the area where he was found had become increasingly dangerous.

She said: "Irrespective of the cause, the news of this death has shocked me and many of the residents who live in the vicinity of the Moat in Dundonald.

"It is unclear at this time whether or not foul play was involved and my heart goes out to the family of the dead man whose lives will undoubtedly be shattered by this incident.

"I have had a number of calls over the past year from concerned residents who were angry that the PSNI had seemingly 'abandoned' the village and I had raised the matter with the local District Commander.

"If this was indeed a death due to foul play, I trust that the police will now devote sufficient resources to apprehending the culprits and that they might now review policing across Dundonald."

See: Dundonald Body Find 'Shattering' Says MP

(BMcC/JM)