Body of missing Ballymena man found in Antrim

The discovery was made last Tuesday afternoon, close to Holywell Hospital where Denver Mitchell was last seen three weeks ago. The 36-year-old, who was described as “vulnerable”, went missing on February 22, resulting in a series of searches by both PSNI and relatives.

A post-mortem examination was carried out but police said the death was not suspicious.

Mr Mitchell’s sister, Alison Pollock, from the Galgorm area of Ballymena, had made several appeals through the local press for information on her brother’s whereabouts.

At one stage, around 50 relatives and friends carried out a search of the Holywell and Steeple Road area where he was last sighted.

Mr Mitchell was known to suffer from depression, paranoia, and had battled with a drink problem.

His sister had described him as being at a particularly low ebb over the Christmas period, around which time he returned to Holywell as a voluntary patient.

Appealing for help earlier this month, a distraught Alison said: “Denver has gone out wandering in the grounds before but only for a night, or two, and he has always made contact. This time is definitely out of character for him.”