DETECTIVES have arrested a 49-year-old man as part of renewed enquiries into the unexplained death of Derry man Michael Gerald Hampson.
His body was found on the Shore of Lough Neagh near Toomebridge in January 2008.
Detective Inspector Lindsay Kitson said the suspect was arrested in the Maghera area on Monday, January 18 – eight years after Mr Hampson’s body was found.
The man was taken in for questioning and has now been released pending a report to Public Prosecution Service.
Mr Hampson, 53, had four months earlier undergone a heart operation.
Following his disappearance, his family issued a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to Inishowen locals for their help in searching for him.
The family had only made an appeal to Inishowen residents and business owners more than a week ago to help look for the missing granddad-of-three.
Mr Hampson, nicknamed ‘Shortie’ listed Inishowen as one of his favourite places to visit, was last seen on November 30, 2008 boarding a bus to Maghera.
The desperate family posted pictures of Gerard, as part of their appeal, in shops around the peninsula.
But the search was all in vain, with his body being found near Lough Neagh.
Police confirmed it was that of Mr Hampson.
Mr Hampson’s body was found by a passer-by on the Creagh Road, Toomebridge.
A post-mortem is being carried out, but investigators in the North have said the death is unexplained.
In a bid to piece together the events leading up to his death, the PSNI are ask the public to get in touch if they saw Mr Hampson in the time he has been missing.
Detectives also appealed for anyone who saw anything suspicious on the Lough Shore.
The police want to hear from locals who spotted passing cars, or found clothing in the area.
Mr Hampson spent a lot of his time travelling around Inishowen, and was a well-known character around the peninsula’s many beauty spots..
His family said he had “no more worries than anyone else” before he vanished.
Mr Hampson was later buried at Fincairn Church, in the Co Derry village of Feeney, from where he hailed.
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