Members of Belfast's gay community are today being urged to come forward with information about a man killed in a city centre alley in December.
Mr Warren McCauley (54) died in hospital two days after being found with serious head injuries in an alley off Ann Street early on Tuesday December 3rd.
He was a well known member of the gay community and had last been seen the day before the attack when he went into Belfast to do Christmas shopping.
Detective Superintendent Alan Mains, who has been working closely with the gay community as he investigates the murder, appealed for those who knew the victim to come forward.
"I am convinced that he had been meeting that night with someone who was familiar to him and of the same persuasion."
Det Supt Mains made a new appeal today jointly with gay organisations the Gay Rights Association and the Rainbow Group.
He said it was the first time the PSNI had made such a joint appeal with the gay community.
Police are now ready to move to the next phase of their murder inquiry - interviews with people they have identified - but because of the sensitivities of the gay community he was giving them the opportunity to come forward before police arrived on their doorstep, he said.
"Anyone who knew him should come forward to the police or the Gay Rights Association or the Rainbow Project," said Det Supt Mains.
Gay rights campaigner Mr PA McLaughlin backed the message for gays to come forward saying: "We know and respect you have a position in the community, thatyou have a secret you have kept to yourself.
"But the police need your information and please come to us. Get in touch with the police, don't have them to be forced to go searching for you."
PA