This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/7800270.stm

The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Pensioner murder inquiry launched Two arrested after woman's murder
(about 5 hours later)
Police have confirmed they are treating the death of an 81-year-old woman at her home in Newry as murder. Police have confirmed they are treating the death of an 81-year-old woman at her County Down home as murder.
Officers were called to Maire Rankin's Dublin Road home by relatives, who became concerned when she failed to answer phone calls on Christmas Day. Officers were called to Maire Rankin's Dublin Road home in Newry by relatives who became concerned when she failed to answer phone calls on Christmas Day.
The pensioner was last seen on Christmas Eve. Police said a post mortem examination was now complete. Ms Rankin was last seen on Christmas Eve.
Detective Chief Inspector Gareth Talbot described Mrs Rankin's murder as a "particularly dreadful crime". A police spokesperson said a man aged 39 and a woman aged 42 had been arrested and were helping with inquiries.
He said investigations were at an early stage and appealed for information from the public about the murder. The spokesperson said Ms Rankin had sustained multiple injuries and it was not believed that burglary was a motive.
He said there had been no sign of a forced entry and nothing appeared to have been taken.