Police renew murder inquiry

Police intend to use new forensic techniques

Police in County Antrim have launched a fresh appeal to catch the killer of a meat plant worker five years ago.

The body of Charles Strain, 28, was found by his father on 3 June 1998 in his Carnhill Walk flat, Carrickfergus, where he lived alone.

He had been beaten about the head and body and was lying on a sofa in his living room.

Five years later, police intend to investigate the murder using the latest scientific techniques.

Mr Strain was a night-shift worker at Hilton Meats at Kilroot near Carrickfergus.

The alarm was raised when he failed to report for work for two nights running.

Detectives in Carrickfergus have established that Mr Strain had been drinking at the Tourist Inn in Eden, north of Carrickfergus, on 31 May 1998.

A taxi driver collected him at about midnight, drove him home and watched him walk up the path to his flat.

There were no other sightings of him until his body was found.

Emergency calls

Three 999 calls were made to the police the next day from the block of flats where Mr Strain lived.

Police responded to the calls to various addresses in the block, which were made at 0155 BST, 1648 BST and 1950 BST.

However, they found nothing suspicious.

Detectives have established that telephone boxes in Bridewell Drive and Oakfield Drive were used to make the calls.

The police have asked anyone with information which could help their investigation to contact them at Carrickfergus, Tel: [phone] or to use the Crimestoppers line on 0800 555111.