THE family of a young man who has been missing for a week have urged anyone with any information about his disappearance to come forward.
Dean McIlwaine (22) was last seen in the Carnmoney Road area of Newtownabbey at around 1pm on Thursday July 13.
On Tuesday night, police released CCTV footage of him in the Monkstown Spar shop early on Thursday morning, but he was also seen later that day in the Carnmoney/Beverley area.
Speaking to The Irish News, Hannah-Ruth Rehbein, a cousin of the missing man, said his family are "gravely concerned" for his welfare, as today marks a week since he was last seen.
"He has a very friendly, smiling face and is really pleasant to talk to," she said.
"We are just at a loss as to where he went to, and there has been no activity on his mobile phone since Thursday."
Ms Rehbein urged anyone who was passing through the Newtownabbey area on Thursday and has a dashboard camera in their car to check the footage in the hopes of spotting the missing man.
The 22-year-old is a talented barber and was planning to open his own barbershop at the end of the month.
"We, his family and friends, desperately want him safely home so that we can celebrate and encourage him in his venture," Ms Rehbein said.
"We want Dean to know that anything that may be troubling or concerning him does not have to be dealt with alone; no problem is too great. He has a family and friends who love him and want him home.
"Our sincere thanks to the Police Service of Northern Ireland, and thousands of members of the public who have offered their assistance in searching for Dean - we are most grateful."
On Monday evening, members of the McIlwaine family and hundreds of volunteers gathered at Belfast City Hall before taking to the streets to search for the missing man.
Volunteers who work with the homeless used their expertise to lead groups of people across the city.
Missing posters have also been put up in shops and on lampposts in Newtownabbey and Belfast in the hope someone may have spotted him.
Dean was last seen wearing a maroon short-sleeved shirt, light blue denim shorts and navy footwear.
He is 5' 8'' tall, of medium build, has dark brown hair, facial hair and sleeve-style tattoos on his arms. He was also wearing a gold watch.
Anyone with any information can contact the PSNI on 101.
