TRIBUTES have been paid to a Belfast man whose body was found a week after he went missing.
Extensive searches were carried out since Robert Holmes (42) disappeared on October 17. The father-of-three had been last seen in the Lakeview Avenue area of Newtownabbey.
But on Wednesday night, police confirmed that they had recovered the body of Mr Holmes in the Three Mile Water area of Newtownabbey earlier in the day.
The PSNI said it is not treating the death as suspicious.
Mr Holmes, who had been working as a labourer, was also well-known as a singer-songwriter on the local music scene. Rock band Snow Patrol were among a string of high-profile figures who added their voices to appeals for information after his disappearance.
The discovery of his body came a day after his sister Joanne made an emotional appeal for help in finding him. She had also described how "anyone who met him knew how charismatic he was".
The family's church, Greenisland Baptist, have appealed for support for the family of Mr Holmes.
"Please be in prayer for the Clarke and Holmes family," it said.
"We are devastated to share, at the family's request, that Robert's body was found this evening (Wednesday). We plead with our great God to have mercy upon this wee family."
SDLP councillor Noreen McClelland also extended her sympathies to the family and friends of Mr Holmes.
"It is absolutely devastating to hear that Robert Holmes will not be coming home to his loved ones," he said.
"Instances like this are a reminder of how fragile life is.
"My thoughts and prayers, along with those of the whole community are with Robert’s family as their loss is felt by us all."
