Portadown murders: Residents on ‘very scary and disturbing’ incident

A Portadown resident has spoken of the “very scary and disturbing” incident which saw saw two elderly people murdered in the town on Friday afternoon.

A 40-year-old man remains in police custody this morning in connection with the double murder yesterday afternoon.

The pensioners, both in their eighties, were found dead by their daughter-in-law at the house in Upper Ramone Park.

Police have described the attack as “very brutal”. The couple are understood to have been stabbed.

Detective Superintendent Kevin Geddes said: “We are now treating this as a murder investigation and I would like to appeal for any information around it.

“It was a very brutal attack but I would like to reassure the public there are extra police patrols in the area and that will remain and we have made an arrest.”

Mr Geddes said a grey Renault Kangoo van which had been taken from the couple’s home was found around 5pm in the nearby Edenderry area.

He said officers were also investigating whether an attempt to break into a car parked in Upper Ramone Park at 12.20pm on Friday was linked to the murders.

One resident, speaking to Q Radio News, said: “It’s a very scary incident and we’re very disturbed that this could have happened in our particular area; it’s a very quiet part of the town but we’re a little more reassured now that police say they have apprehended someone who may have been involved.

“It makes us feel a bit more at ease but we’re still a bit worried and a bit scared that this happened in this nice quiet cul-de-sac.”

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