Police are appealing to Belfast's gay community for help in finding the person who murdered a middle-aged man.
Mr Warren McCauley (54), died in hospital last Thursday after being viciously assaulted in the city centre. He suffered serious head injuries.
He was found in Cole's Alley, which runs between Church Lane and Ann Street early on Tuesday. Mr McCauley was originally from Portadown, Co Armagh, but is understood to have been living in Antrim.
Members of the gay community said he regularly frequented gay venues using the name of "Aaron". They have said homophobia could be a possible motive for the murder. Mr McCauley was last seen on Monday afternoon. He had gone to Belfast to do some shopping.
Det Supt Alan Mains, who is leading the murder investigation, said Mr McCauley had visited various shops in the city from around 1.30 p.m. His car was parked on Dunbar Street around 4.30 p.m. "We are lost as to where he was from 5 p.m. on Monday evening," Det Supt Mains said.
"We do know though that he was to meet someone named Paul or Stevie at 8 p.m. down at the Custom House bar which was formerly the Crow's Nest." Det Supt Mains said he urgently needed to speak to the man Mr McCauley was due to meet. Police also want anyone who noticed anything suspicious in the Ann Street area on Monday night or Tuesday morning to contact them.
Mr McCauley was around 5 feet 9 inches tall, of heavy build, and clean shaven with dark hair. He was wearing navy corduroy trousers, a checked shirt and a navy sweater. Police are certain that the attack happened in Cole's Alley. They are keeping an open mind on a motive for the murder.
Det Supt Mains said they had been working with the Northern Ireland Gay Rights Association and the Rainbow Project, a health organisation for homosexual men. Their assistance had been "invaluable", he added.
Members of the gay community visited gay venues in Belfast last night with photographs of Mr McCauley. They asked people if they knew him or saw him on the night of his murder. Police sources have promised confidentiality to anyone giving information.