Two women and man arrested on suspicion of murder

Two women and a man have been arrested after police launched a murder investigation in Co Armagh.

Detectives are investigating an incident in the Edward Street area of Lurgan which occurred in the early hours of Sunday.

A PSNI spokesperson said two women, aged 35 and 43, and a 31-year-old man have been arrested on suspicion of murder and are in custody assisting with police enquiries.

Edward Street remained closed on Sunday afternoon while officers conducted further inquiries.

A police cordon covered a number of surrounding housing estates.

Police forensic officers erected a tent in a housing estate close to Edward Street and detectives have been carrying out door-to-door inquiries.

The PSNI spokesperson said: “Detectives would ask anyone who was in the Edward Street or Francis Street areas between 2am and 5am on Sunday morning, and who noticed any suspicious activity or who may have captured dashcam footage which could assist with the investigation, to contact them on 101, quoting reference number 370 03/12/23.”

It is understood the dead person has yet to be identified.

DUP MP for the area Carla Lockhart said she had been liaising with police about the sudden death.

She said: “This is very alarming for the local area and deeply concerning. My thoughts are with the deceased’s family.

“It is important to allow the police time and space to investigate this evolving situation.

“It is unhelpful to have speculation in the initial stages of the investigation.

“It is important that anyone who has information that they come forward and report it to the PSNI.”

Sinn Fein MLA John O’Dowd told the BBC that it was awful news for the town.

He said: “No community wants to wake up to the scenes we are witnessing here with police cordons and forensic officers on the ground.

“A family somewhere is going to get really bad news today, terrible news today, and our thoughts are prayers are with those.

“At this stage the police are doing their job, they are gathering information, they are appealing for witnesses and I would appeal to anyone with information to come forward.

Alliance Party MLA Eoin Tennyson said there was shock across Lurgan and the wider area.

“My thoughts and sympathies are with the loved ones of the person murdered in Lurgan,” said Mr Tennyson.

“I cannot begin to imagine what they are going through at present.

“There is shock across Lurgan, Upper Bann and indeed wider Northern Ireland that once again tragedy has been visited upon our area.

“Police have appealed to anyone who was in the Edward or Francis Street areas in the early hours of Sunday to contact them.

“I urge anyone with information on this tragic incident to do so immediately.”