Tam Farrell was said to be in a state of "deep shock" last night as police discovered the body of his cat Oscar which had been missing for over a week.

  Farrell (51) and his wife Ang have asked to be left alone at this difficult time and refused to speak to us last night.

  Police found the maggot ridden body of Oscar (12) in a Langlee garden after a nationwide search of the area and immediately set up a crime scene. Forensic experts cordoned off a large section of Primrose Bank immediately after the body was found and began combing the surrounding area for clues.

  Police wouldn't confirm if they had initiated a murder investigation but a spokesman said last night: "We will keep an open mind until our investigations are complete. Forensics haven't yet found a murder weapon but it's early days yet."

  However, a friend of the family, who didn't want to be named, revealed: "Up until recently Oscar seemed to be ok, he was always the life and soul of the party; playing with his toy mouse and chasing balls of wool around the living room. But he's become quite depressed the last couple of weeks and hasn't seemed himself. He'd go out at night and not say where he was going and come back at all hours. I wouldn't be surprised if it was suicide."

  Police told us that no suicide note had been found but couldn't rule out that Oscar had taken his own life.

  Investigations are continuing.