Moffatts' pain at Castledawson stabbing

Michael McLaughlin died after being stabbed in an apartment block on the Hillhead Road, shortly before 10.30pm on Sunday night in the County Londonderry village.

Mr Moffatt's daughter Norman told The Times on Monday that the tragedy in Castledawson has hit home to her family.

Norma's father, Norman, was stabbed while out buying a newspaper in Coleraine back in January 2001 near his home at Railway Road.

The 73-year-old was rushed to hospital but never recovered and several weeks later he died.

"My mother and father would have celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary on 1st of August," said Norma.

"That was a hard time for my family, then we heard of this terrible tragedy at the weekend, and it brings it all back to us.

"Knife crime is getting more and more common here in Northern Ireland and it is very worrying. "

Norma appealed for information about her father's murder: "It's been nine-and-a-half years since my father died, and there's not a day goes past that we don't think about him.

"If anyone has any information, I would appeal to them to please come forward to the police."

In 2005 police re-visited the murder scene, and carried out further searches of the area.

A mobile police station was brought to Railway Road to facilitate residents or members of the public who could offer any new information.

However, police believe that improved technology means that images that show Norman being stabbed are becoming clearer and police hope to identify the murderer soon.

East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell joined the Moffatt family in renewing their appeal for information: "The stabbings at the weekend in Omagh and Castledawson remind us of the often fatal consequences that knife-related crime brings.

As yet there remains no breakthrough in finding Mr Moffatt's killer.

"This is a very poignant time for the family as Mr and Mrs Moffatt would have been celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary this year. I join with them in appealing to anyone with information, however small it might seem, to come forward to the Police."