Man still being questioned over Sean Small murder

A police cordon remains at Sean Small's home in Newcastle

A man in his 40s is still in police custody after being arrested on suspicion of murdering a pensioner in County Down.

Sean Small, 84, was murdered last week and his body was found outside his home at Slievenabrock Avenue in Newcastle late on Sunday night.

The victim was last seen alive on the afternoon of Tuesday 19 August, five days before his body was discovered.

A police cordon remains around the scene.

Forensic officers have spent the past few days conducting examinations at the victim's home and at a house next door.

There is no suggestion that any occupant of the neighbouring home is part of the police investigation.

Sean Small's grieving family members are said to be well known and respected in the Newcastle area.

Police discovered Mr Small's body at about 22:30 BST outside a house on Slievenabrock Avenue on Sunday evening

The timeline between the last confirmed sighting of the victim and the discovery of his body is a central focus in the ongoing murder investigation.

The police have appealed for assistance from anyone in the local community who noticed anything "suspicious or out of the ordinary" between Tuesday of last week and Sunday night.

Mr Small was recently released from prison after serving a sentence for sexual offences.

In 2022, he pleaded guilty to 10 sexual offences against a woman described as "vulnerable" and a teenage girl.

He was sentenced to three years in prison and three years under supervision in the community.

The police have declined to say if they are investigating a possible link between Sean Small's offences and his murder.