Police launch Drumtara murder probe
Detectives from Serious Crime Branch investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a 69-year-old man in the Drumtara area of Ballymena yesterday afternoon, Tuesday 28 April have confirmed they are treating his death as murder.
The man has been named locally as Matt ‘Matha’ Shirley, from the Wakehurst Road area of Harryville, Ballymena. Two men, aged 41 and 49 and a 47 year old woman arrested yesterday as part of the investigation remain in police custody.
Detective Chief Inspector Alan Dickson is continuing to appeal for anyone who was in the Drumtara area from Sunday evening until teatime yesterday and who has any information about an altercation involving a group of people to contact the Detectives on the non-emergency number 101. Alternately information can be passed anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.