Eight-year-old stable after Dungannon murder — teen arrested on suspicion of killing

A 61-year-old man was found dead at a Dungannon property on Saturday; his eight-year-old daughter remains in hospital in a stable condition.

Eight-year-old recovering in hospital after father found dead in Dungannon

An eight-year-old girl is in a stable condition in hospital following a serious incident in Dungannon, Northern Ireland, on Saturday morning, BBC News reports. A 61-year-old man was found dead at a house on Lisnahull Road at approximately 11:00 BST, and a 16-year-old has since been arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.

The man's wife, aged 48, sustained non-life-threatening injuries during the incident and has since been discharged from hospital. Detectives have been granted a court extension to question the arrested teenager for a further 36 hours.

BBC News NI understands the man who died was originally from Guinea-Bissau but had lived in Northern Ireland for more than two decades.

PSNI Superintendent Peter Stevenson told reporters on Monday that police received a call on Saturday morning from a member of the public reporting an ongoing disturbance at the property. "Officers arrived a short time later and discovered the body of a man, aged 61, his 48-year-old wife, who sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and their severely injured eight-year-old daughter," Stevenson said.

Officers immediately began first aid on the woman and the child. "I am in no doubt their quick actions gave the young girl a fighting chance at survival," Stevenson said.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service confirmed it received a 999 call at 11:08 on Saturday. It dispatched a helicopter crew, three emergency crews, one advanced care paramedic, two ambulance officers, and a HART (Hazardous Area Response Team) crew to the scene.

Flowers have been laid outside the property on Lisnahull Road.

"First and foremost, I want to express my sympathies to the loved ones of this family who will inevitably be struggling to come to terms with this horrendous news," Stevenson said. He confirmed that specialist officers are supporting the wider family.

Stevenson also moved to reassure the local community. "I want to repeat that we do not believe there is an ongoing risk to the public. At this stage we are not looking for anyone else in connection with this investigation," he said. Residents can expect a continued increased police presence in the area.

Members of the public have been asked not to speculate on the case while the investigation is ongoing. Stevenson said early support has been provided to officers who attended the scene, and that trauma-focused care for those officers will continue.

Source: BBC News