Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
MURDER PROBE AS MAN’S BODY FOUND
Locals in shock after second killing within a week
A MURDER inquiry was launched yesterday after a man’s body was found at a house.
The home, at Sandy Braes in Magherafelt, Co Derry, was sealed off last night with PSNI officers in forensic overalls coming and going from the property.
A number of bags of items were removed from the house. Last night the victim was named locally as Brian Coulter. He is understood to have been in his early 60s.
In a brief statement, the PSNI said detectives from their Major Investigation Team had launched a murder investigation after the body was discovered.
Detective Chief Inspector Raymond Phelan said: “Just after 12.30 this afternoon police received a report that the body of a deceased male had been found at a residential property.
“Police attended and a man has been arrested nearby on suspicion of murder.
A man has been arrested nearby on suspicion of murder DCI RAYMOND PHELAN YESTERDAY
REELING
“My investigation is at a very early stage and I would appeal to anyone who was in the Sandy Braes area in recent days and who witnessed anything to contact detectives on 101.”
Meanwhile, SDLP Mid-ulster MLA Patsy Mcglone said the community was “reeling after the second murder investigation in the area in a week”.
He added: “My thoughts are with the family and friends of this man who are receiving the worst news imaginable today. Magherafelt is not an area that is used to this kind of crime, so to see two murder investigations launched in the wider area in a week has been very shocking for the local community.
“People will be rightly concerned at the recent rise in violent crime. One incident is too many and we must do everything we can to reassure local people and others that this is a safe and welcoming area.
“I would encourage anyone who saw anything suspicious to come forward to police immediately.”