AN investigation into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of a young man on New Year’s Day 17 years ago is being carried out by the Police Ombudsman, his father said.
Martin Kelly was last seen after leaving the now shuttered Pat’s Bar in Sailortown in the docks area of Belfast.
The then 22-year-old, a plumber from Holywood, was captured on CCTV walking along the River Lagan on the evening of January 1st 2006.
His father Raymond said the ombudsman has opened an investigation into the circumstances around the disappearance.
Mr Kelly believes his son may have been murdered and not fallen into the river following an evening of drinking.
"There is a lot to investigate from the police attitude and the initial searches right up to the top,” he told The Sunday Life.
"Police believe Martin came out of Pat’s Bar very drunk and wasn’t picked up on the cameras at the Policing Board or the Prudential building and therefore he went into the water. But I spoke to the staff in the Prudential building and Martin could have walked past as the camera only activates if you are on the property, you could have walked a regiment past the building and not be on the camera.
“I believe Martin was murdered, and if he wasn’t murdered by somebody he met in the harbour area.”
The younger Mr Kelly was drinking in the bar with friends who left around 7pm. All of them left the bar in two taxis but Mr Kelly returned about 40 minutes later.
His father said the young man was offered a lift to Holywood. However, after receiving a call on a borrowed mobile phone he left the bar again.
In a statement, the PSNI said: "The investigation into the disappearance of Martin Kelly, who went missing from Belfast in January 2006, remains open.
“Whilst we are aware of the continuing impact of Martin’s disappearance on his family, as there is an ongoing PONI investigation we cannot comment further at this time."
