POLICE IN NORTHERN Ireland have launched a murder investigation following the disappearance of a man over four years ago.

Mark Gourley was reported missing on 7 March 2009 and was last seen in the Burney’s Lane area of Glengormley outside Newtownabbey that day. As a result of new information however the PSNI have now launched a murder investigation.

The PSNI described Gourley as a “vulnerable individual” who was on medication at the time of his disappearance.

Police released an image of Gourley which they hope will lead to further information after previous appeals generated sightings but none after 7 March 2009.

Investigating officers believe that while Gourely was last seen in the Glengormley area he was from the Castlemara area of Carrickfergus and may have returned to that area on the day of his last sighting.

Police believe that there are people in these communities who have knowledge of what happened and may also have heard rumours about his disappearance.

Gourley is described as being around 5ft, 9” tall, described as ‘well-built’, around 10-11 stone, with short dirty fair cropped hair and an eyebrow bolt in his right eyebrow.