Arrest after body found in search for missing Belfast man
The family of missing Belfast man John Hardy, also known as John George, have said his body has been found in Spain.
Spanish police said a 32-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.
Police said they were "conducting the necessary steps" to identify a body, found on Tuesday.
The family's solicitor, Kevin Winters, said the missing man's father, Billy George, received a call from Spanish police at about 17:00 GMT on Tuesday to tell them that Mr George's remains were recovered.
According to reports by Spanish media, a body was discovered among some trees on a farm at Rojales, about 45 minutes south of Alicante.
Formal identification to take place
In a statement Mr Winters said: "Mr Billy George was told that his son's body was now in a morgue, awaiting formal identification.
"The family are both distressed, but also relieved at this latest news. It brings to an end an extremely torturous search process for the body."
There will now be a post-mortem examination to discover how he died.
Formal DNA identification is due to take place, but it is understood through clothing and tattoos the family believe it is the 37-year-old who has been missing since 14 December.
Mr Hardy's family are to formally identify his body on Wednesday, Mr Winters told BBC Radio Ulster's Good Morning Ulster.
Mr Winters said he understood that "one arrest is not necessarily conclusive".
Mr Hardy was last in touch with his family on that day when he drove from Alicante to Benidorm.
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said it had been "liaising closely with the missing man's family and other law enforcement agencies".
Members of the Northern Ireland-based K9 Search and Rescue NI, an all-volunteer canine search and rescue team, also travelled to Spain to help with search but returned at the weekend.
Privacy
Mr Winter said Mr Hardy's family wanted to thank all who have helped and supported them over the last number of days.
He added: "They now respectfully ask for some privacy to allow them both time and space to engage on the next harrowing stages on what is now a formalised murder investigation."
Sinn Féin MP for Belfast West Paul Maskey has expressed condolences to the family.
He said he has been in close contact with the family.
