A man who died following a serious assault that is being treated as a murder in Co Tyrone has been named as Kyle McDermot.
The 24-year-old died following an assault outside a property in the Victoria Road area of Ballymagorry last night.
A 24-year-old man has been arrested in connection with murder and remains in custody.
It’s understood Mr McDermot was involved in an incident with a man outside his property who had kicked down his bin, before being seriously assaulted.
He later died in Altnagelvin Hospital in the early hours of this morning.
The A5 was subsequently closed between its junctions with Leckpatrick Road, Ballymagorry and Woodend Road, Strabane while police investigated the incident. It has since reopened police have confirmed.
Detective inspector Hazel Miller said: “Kyle McDermot died following an altercation, which took place on the night of Sunday 6 October in the Victoria Road area.
“A young man’s life has been cut short, and a loving family are now left trying come to terms with their grief. My thoughts are with them at this distressing time.”
Detective Inspector Miller continued: “Our investigation is still in the early stages, and I want to take this opportunity to reiterate my earlier appeal for anyone with information to come forward.
“If you were in, or perhaps driving along, the Victoria Road area of Ballymagorry last night between 6pm and midnight, and noticed an altercation or anything untoward, please contact us. In particular, I’m asking you to check any footage, including dash cam footage, that you may have captured. Contact us on 101, quoting reference 1670 of 06/10/24.”
She continued: “A 24-year-man arrested in connection with the investigation remains in custody at this time.”
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SDLP West Tyrone MLA Daniel McCrossan said the community is devastated after the death.
“The local community is totally and utterly devastated following the news of a young man’s death following an assault late last night,” he said.
“Our thoughts and prayers are with this man’s family and friends, my heart goes out to them as they deal with this earth-shattering news. I’m sure everyone in the local community will rally around them at this terrible time.
“I commend police for their quick response to this and would urge the public to give them the space they need to carry out their investigation. Anyone with any information should come forward immediately.
“At the heart of this matter is a broken family and they should be uppermost in our thoughts at this time.”
Independent councillor Raymond Barr, who lived close to Mr McDermot said the entire ordeal has left the small village with “fear and concerns”.
“My thoughts and sympathy go out to the family. I totally condemn what has happened here, there is a dark cloud over the Ballygomarry area,” he said.
“There is now a lot of anxiety, and fear about what has happened, especially that something like this could happen here and I know there is a worry something like this could happen again.
“People here are devastated at this”.
Councillor Paul Gallagher echoed Mr Barr’s comments, saying his thoughts and prayers go out to Mr McDermott’s family.
“I didn’t know Mr McDermott personally, but this is very sad. How someone outside their own home can be assaulted and lose their life, it’s unimaginable.
“This kind of thing does not happen here. My heart goes out to the family and I know the community is devastated and now worried. People now have serious concerns about their safety.”
Information can also be provided to the independent charity Crimestoppers, with total anonymity, on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.