Updated 9.54am

ON THE SIXTH anniversary of the discovery of his body, detectives in Northern Ireland have issued an appeal for information about the murder of Ronald Todd.

Just hours after the appeal was issued, the PSNI arrested two men, aged 32 and 44, in connection with the killing. Both men are currently assisting police with their enquiries.

The PSNI say the father-of-two suffered a brutal death. He was beaten and bound before being dumped into the Lagan river back in 2005.

The 30-year-old Hillborough man was last seen leaving a pub on Maghaberry Road outside Lisburn at about 8pm on Wednesday, 21 December 2005.

The following day his red LandRover Freelander was found burning at Green Road. His body was eventually recovered from the river close to Governor’s Bridge in south Belfast on 14 February 2006.

At the time of his disappearance Todd lived with his partner and eight-month-old son. He was a second-hand car salesman but at the time his body was found, police said he may have been killed because of his drug-dealing activities.

“Nobody deserves to die in such a way,” said Detective Chief Inspector Karen Baxter from the Serious Crime Branch.

“Those responsible are still at large and it is essential that anyone with information about the murder gives that information to police.”

Investigating detectives are continuing to follow a number of lines of enquiry. A number of arrests have been made throughout the investigation but nobody has been charged.

Anyone with any information is asked to contact police on 0044-28-9070-0303 or the charity Crimestoppers line on 0800 555 111.