Police launch murder investigation after pensioner killed in Dungannon

A murder investigation has been launched after a pensioner died following a serious assault in Dungannon.

Police were still at the scene today, with the scene of the incident sealed off.

The victim, who is understood to be a foreign national aged in his 70s, died after being attacked at a block of flats close to Corrainey Park shortly after 8pm last night.

At a police briefing this afternoon, Supt Peter Stevenson said the victim “was found seriously injured on the living room floor of the property”.

“The man was a resident in the area for more than 20 years,” he added.

Cllr Barry Monteith updates on the death of a man in Dungannon

The murder scene is in the Lisnahull area, off the busy Newell Road.

Last night, specialist firearms officers carried out a search operation at the block following the incident.

Officers with pistols drawn ordered a man out of a flat in the property before searching a roof space.

A large area was sealed off by police tape with forensic experts at the scene.

Speaking at the scene today, independent councillor Barry Monteith urged people to be “careful” about what they are sharing online.

He told the Belfast Telegraph: “There have been unfolding events since last night, there seems to be a horrible tragedy where a person has lost their life.

“Last night there was a lot of commotion and people were obviously very apprehensive, very scared, and now as the truth starts to come out, people are just shocked. You know, how can this happen somebody in their own home?

“Everybody knows each other round here, I was born and raised in this area, everybody knows each other and it’s just now struggling to come to terms with this.

“There was some sort of 999 call around 8pm or shortly after it, and local people said that’s when they saw ambulances and all arriving.

“There’s a lot of things going around online and on social media, and I would just urge people to be careful about what they’re sharing, because there’s a lot of misinformation going round at the minute.”

Local SDLP councillor Karol McQuade said people in the town are in shock.

“Our thoughts are with the victim’s family and friends as they come to terms with what has happened here,” he said.

“The public are concerned that this has taken place in their town, nobody expects something like this to happen on their doorsteps, but I have spoken to police and would urge people to remain calm.”

Ulster Unionist MLA Diana Armstrong said: “It is devastating news from Dungannon last night following the death of a young man.

“This is a concerning development for the whole community and the police must be given space to investigate this properly. I would call on anyone with any information to come forward to the PSNI.”

One local said there was shock at what had happened.

“We realised something was wrong when we heard the sirens – there was a lot of emergency services on the scene very quickly,” they said.

Armed response teams at the scene of a death in Dungannon

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said it received a 999 call at 8.13pm following reports of an incident in the Corrainey Park area.

“NIAS despatched one Rapid Response Paramedic, two emergency crews and an advanced paramedic to the incident.

“Following assessment and initial treatment at the scene, no patients were taken to hospital.”

Sinn Fein MLA Colm Gildernew said there was a sense of “shock” in the community.

His party colleague councillor Deirdre Varsani said people were “understandably concerned” at the incident.

“It is upsetting for people here. This is such a tight-knit area and it does impact on a lot of people and unnerves a lot of people as well,” she said.

“Everybody is very concerned, but there has been a very high level of co-operation with the emergency services.

“People are just shocked. Everybody knows someone who lives here.

“The emergency services response has been exemplary.”

News Catch Up – Friday 28th February