Boat examined in loyalist search

Alan McCullough has been missing since last Wednesday

Police investigating the disappearance of a missing loyalist have removed a boat from a harbour in County Antrim for forensic examination.

Alan McCullough, 21, whose disappearance is being linked to a loyalist paramilitary feud, was last seen leaving his home in the Shankill area of the city on Wednesday night.

The small wooden fishing boat was taken from Carrickfergus harbour on Monday, amid police fears he may have been abducted and murdered.

Mr McCullough had recently returned to Northern Ireland after fleeing from his home following a feud within the loyalist Ulster Defence Association earlier this year.

It is understood the missing man was part of the faction led by jailed Shankill loyalist Johnny Adair.

Loyalist sources said his disappearance was linked to the murder of senior UDA figure John Gregg, who was shot dead by Adair's supporters in Belfast in February.

His brother, Kenny McCullough, appealed for anyone with information about his disappearance to come forward.

He said on Monday that the family was "deeply distressed" and they had asked the UDA to tell them what has happened to him.

Released without charge

Meanwhile, two men questioned about Mr McCullough's disappearance have been released without charge.

A man in his 40s from north Belfast was arrested on Saturday evening and released on Sunday night.

A 29-year-old man was released from police custody on Monday.

Police investigating his disappearance ended their search of a reservoir in the Waterworks Park in north Belfast on Saturday afternoon after nothing was found.

The police then turned their attention to a boat moored in Carrickfergus.

On Saturday, Detective Chief Inspector Will Kerr said they feared the worst.

"At this stage, we would have a belief that Alan may have been murdered," he said.

Feud

A number of people who were arrested and questioned about serious crime, following searches in the greater Belfast area, were released without charge on Saturday.

The bloody feud within the UDA was linked to the deaths of four men at the beginning of the year.

Johnny Adair and his associate John White were expelled from the UDA leadership last September, causing a split in the organisation.

In February, family and associates of Adair fled their homes for Scotland.

Adair remains in prison after the Northern Ireland Secretary, Paul Murphy, revoked his early release licence in January for his involvement in "a litany of terrorist crimes".