THE Chairperson of the Lagan Valley Regional Park Board has offered condolences to the family of a man whose body was found close to Shaws Bridge in South Belfast.

Castlereagh Councillor Sara Duncan spoke out following the discovery on Sunday of the body in the River Lagan.

At the time of going to press, the PSNI said they were not treating the 28-year-old’s death as suspicious, and a post mortem is being carried out this week to determine the cause of death.

Ms Duncan said: “I was distraught to hear of this young man being found in the river, and as Lagan Valley Chairwoman I’d like to express condolences to his family on behalf of the board.

“This will be a very upsetting time for his family, and our thoughts are very much with them.”