Body found in Cookstown as family of missing man Taylor Stewart informed

Missing Cookstown man, 21-year-old Taylor Stewart

Police have confirmed that the body of a man has been located in Cookstown this afternoon, Wednesday 7 January, following days of intensive search efforts across the town.

While formal identification has not yet taken place, police have confirmed that the family of Taylor Stewart, who has been missing since the early hours of New Year’s Day, has been informed.

Taylor, aged 21, was last seen in the Church Heights area of Cookstown at around 5.30am on Thursday 1 January. His disappearance prompted a large-scale search operation involving police officers and specialist voluntary rescue organisations, drawing widespread concern from the local community, particularly amid difficult winter weather conditions.

Community Rescue Service teams on the ground in Cookstown during searches in the Cookstown area

The Community Rescue Service (CRS) has been intensively involved in the search for Taylor.

Commenting on Tuesday (6 January), a CRS spokesperson issued the following update:

“Since our last posting CRS volunteers have continued with targeted searches in Cookstown.

“Please see Police Mid-Ulster social media for more information, and we would ask that folks in the Cookstown area please check inside any sheds, boiler houses, garages and any gaps between outbuildings and fences or hedges. If you have CCTV or door camera, or a dash cam and were around the area, please review any recorded footage from 5.30am on the 1st January.

“Anyone with any information please contact the police on 101 or speak with any of our CRS volunteers.”

It is understood the CRS continued in pre-planned searches earlier today.

Over the past number of days, search teams had been visible across Cookstown, with volunteers and officers covering extensive areas as part of a coordinated effort.

Police have not released further details surrounding the discovery at this stage. Enquiries are continuing and a further update is expected once formal identification has been completed and the circumstances surrounding the incident are fully established.