Bobbie McKee: Police get more time to question murder suspect

Image source, PSNI

Image caption, Bobbie McKee was found dead in a house in Kilkeel on Thursday

Detectives investigating the murder of County Down man Bobbie McKee have been given an extra 36 hours to question a 25-year-old man arrested on suspicion of his murder.

Mr McKee, 69, was found dead in a house on Newcastle Road in Kilkeel on Thursday.

His wife, also in her 60s, sustained serious head injuries in the incident and is in hospital.

The man was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder.

Police said they received a "report of concern for the safety of a couple" at the property shortly after 12:50 GMT.

On arrival, officers found the body of Mr McKee and his wife, who is in a stable condition.

Det Ch Insp Anthony Kelly said: "Enquiries remain ongoing in order to determine exactly what has happened. However, at this time, we are not treating this as a firearms-related report."

Image caption, Police say they are not treating the incident as firearms related

'Lovely family'

Mourne District Orange Lodge said they were "shocked and saddened" by his death.

"Brother McKee and his wife have contributed hugely to the community in Kilkeel and we are all still very much in shock at this huge loss," they wrote on social media.

"We would ask that the family's privacy be respected at this time."

DUP assembly member for South Down Diane Forsythe described them as a "lovely family" and described what happened as "absolutely shocking and horrific".

"This is absolutely devastating and heart-breaking for Kilkeel and the wider Mourne area," she told 大象传媒 News NI's Good Morning Ulster on Friday.

"It's fair to say the community is completely numb as the news broke yesterday," she continued.

"This is a well-known family who we just all have in our thoughts and prayers at this devastating time."

Anne Coffey from New Beginnings charity shop in Kilkeel said she knew Mr McKee well through Mourne Presbyterian Church where she said he was a caretaker.

"Everybody's devastated," Ms Coffey said.

She said church members would "rally around as a family" for those affected.

Ch Insp Lynne Corbett acknowledged "the Kilkeel and wider Mourne community will feel both shocked and saddened by what has happened".

"Our thoughts are with the family as they struggle to come to terms with what has happened, and they have our full sympathy at this time."

She urged members of the public not to speculate on the incident.