PacemakerA homicide inquiry has been launched after the dying of a person in Downpatrick.
Police went to a home in Marian Park at about 12:00 BST on Sunday following a report {that a} physique had been discovered.
A 30-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of homicide.
Police suspect the case is likely to be linked to a serious assault on a priest in St Patrick’s Church within the County Down city.
Supt Norman Haslett mentioned: “Enquiries are at an early stage and, presently, we suspect this can be linked to a critical assault within the St Patrick’s Avenue space of Downpatrick on Sunday.”
Beforehand, police mentioned a person walked into the church on St Patrick’s Avenue at about 10:10 and hit the priest, Fr John Murray, on the top with a bottle earlier than leaving.
Det Ch Insp McBurney mentioned it “was a totally stunning and brutal assault and has left the priest with a critical head harm”.
The priest was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, the place police mentioned he remained in a “critical situation”.
Sinn Féin MP for South Down, Chris Hazzard, mentioned the assault on the priest and the dying of the person in Downpatrick was “deeply stunning”.
“The dying of a person, together with the vicious assault on Fr Murray in St Patrick’s Church, has deeply saddened and horrified the area people,” he mentioned.
“My ideas are with all these affected by these tragic occasions, parishioners who have been on their approach to Mass this morning, and the emergency companies who attended the scenes.
“I’d encourage anybody with data to contact police to help them with their investigations.”
