"Just come home" - parents plea to missing 22 year old

Seven days after he went missing, the family of Dean McIIwaine have issued a tearful message for him to come home.

His parents were back on the Carnmoney Road, where the 22 year old was last seen, while the PSNI stopped cars to hand out leaflets in the hope that someone might remember something.

Mum Karen said "just come home, please, we need you home, he is loved so much, I just can't believe it".

Close to tears, her husband Rodney issued a message to his son "we are lost without you, we are distraught"

"The days are just dragging; we can't sleep at night it’s just horrible"

"If you are watching or listening to this please son, just ring us."

The message was echoed by his brother Glenn who said, "I just need my brother back"

"Mum and dad need their son back; the whole family wants you back."

"It's been too long now and we all want you home"

Dean had been due to open his own business at the end of the month and had been a best man at his brother’s wedding just a few weeks ago.

Glen says, "He had everything going for him, I would trade places with him any day".

"I wish I had as many friends as him, I wish I was as talented as him, I just wish I was him."

"That’s something I wish he would just realise and come home to see us."

Exactly a week since he went missing the PSNI conducted a number of searches in the Newtownabbey area along with a specialist vehicle checkpoint.

Officers stopped cars on the Carnmoney Road and the drivers handed leaflets in the hope someone might remember something.

Superintendent Emma Bond says, "The reason why Dean went missing isn’t necessarily important"

"Getting as much information as we can to help find him is the priority, we rely on members of the public and the local community to help us ensure we are searching in the right places"

"I would also appeal for Dean himself if he sees or hears this to contact us and let us know he is safe and well.