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Family of missing Co Down man Oliver McAfee fly to Israel to aid search

Oliver McAfee (29) from Dromore was last seen cycling in the north of Israel on November 21 embarking on a popular route known as the 'Israel trail'
Oliver McAfee (29) from Dromore was last seen cycling in the north of Israel on November 21 embarking on a popular route known as the 'Israel trail' Oliver McAfee (29) from Dromore was last seen cycling in the north of Israel on November 21 embarking on a popular route known as the 'Israel trail'

THE brother of a Co Down man who disappeared in Israel almost three months have flown out to the country to seek new clues about what happened.

Oliver McAfee (29) from Dromore was last seen cycling in the north of Israel on November 21 embarking on a popular route known as the 'Israel trail' .

His brother Matthew left yesterday for the Holy Land with their uncle.

They have arranged meetings with police, search teams, the British embassy and the media.

Concern was raised when Oliver McAfee, who travelled to Israel in October, failed to board a pre-booked flight home on December 1.

He was due to stay with friends but there was no contact and he was reported missing to police shortly before Christmas.

Searches including desert search teams, police, helicopters and blood hounds have taken place and it has emerged that the last photograph taken using the missing man's camera was taken on November 19.

A bag belonging to him and containing his wallet, tablet computer and keys was discovered approx 60km north west of the place where the picture was taken.

A few further belongings - bags, his bike and shoes - were found a short distance away at a makeshift camp site.

Mr McAfee's family raised more than £1,500 in just nine days through GoFundMe to pay for family members to go out and help with the search and `missing person' posters.

Search teams also found a number of pieces of paper with words written from the Bible in Oliver McAfee's handwriting.

There has been some speculation that he may have suffered a condition known as 'Jerusalem syndrome' where visitors to the city experience religious delusions.