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| Lee Irving murder may have been a disability hate crime, say police | Lee Irving murder may have been a disability hate crime, say police |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Two men have appeared in court charged with murdering a vulnerable man from Newcastle upon Tyne, in what police believe may have been a disability hate crime. | Two men have appeared in court charged with murdering a vulnerable man from Newcastle upon Tyne, in what police believe may have been a disability hate crime. |
| Lee Irving, 24, from East Denton, in the west of the city, was found dead on Saturday morning in a grassed area near the A1, about 10 miles from his home. He was described by Northumbria police as vulnerable and having learning difficulties. | Lee Irving, 24, from East Denton, in the west of the city, was found dead on Saturday morning in a grassed area near the A1, about 10 miles from his home. He was described by Northumbria police as vulnerable and having learning difficulties. |
| James Wheatley, 28, and Barry Imray, 31, both from Newcastle, appeared at North Tyneside magistrates court accused of his murder. The pair spoke to confirm their names and were told their case would be sent to crown court. | James Wheatley, 28, and Barry Imray, 31, both from Newcastle, appeared at North Tyneside magistrates court accused of his murder. The pair spoke to confirm their names and were told their case would be sent to crown court. |
| Two men, aged 50 and 23, and two women, aged 50 and 20, who were also arrested, have been bailed pending further inquiries. | Two men, aged 50 and 23, and two women, aged 50 and 20, who were also arrested, have been bailed pending further inquiries. |
| Detectives are treating it as a possible disability hate crime, police confirmed. Supt Bruce Storey said: “Lee had learning difficulties and was vulnerable. One of our key lines of inquiry was to establish whether this is a factor in his death and a motivation in this crime.” | Detectives are treating it as a possible disability hate crime, police confirmed. Supt Bruce Storey said: “Lee had learning difficulties and was vulnerable. One of our key lines of inquiry was to establish whether this is a factor in his death and a motivation in this crime.” |
| On Monday, Irving’s family described Lee as “a wonderful young man” who was “loved by many”. They recalled that he loved ice-skating in Whitley Bay, going to the cinema and enjoying life. | On Monday, Irving’s family described Lee as “a wonderful young man” who was “loved by many”. They recalled that he loved ice-skating in Whitley Bay, going to the cinema and enjoying life. |
| The family added: “What we have lost is irreplaceable and we must live with our loss every day. We would like to thank everyone who has supported us at this devastating time. Lee will always remain in our hearts and thoughts.” | The family added: “What we have lost is irreplaceable and we must live with our loss every day. We would like to thank everyone who has supported us at this devastating time. Lee will always remain in our hearts and thoughts.” |
| Irving’s mother, Bev, wrote on Facebook that her son had the “mind of an eight-year-old”. She acted as full-time carer for Lee and his three younger brothers. Bev Irving described Lee as a “lovely, lovely person” who “just wanted a friend”. | Irving’s mother, Bev, wrote on Facebook that her son had the “mind of an eight-year-old”. She acted as full-time carer for Lee and his three younger brothers. Bev Irving described Lee as a “lovely, lovely person” who “just wanted a friend”. |
| She discovered that he had died after a friend raised the alarm on social media. “I got a message on Facebook expressing concern for Lee on Saturday so I rang the police, and about one hour later that’s when they came and knocked at my door,” she told the Newcastle Chronicle. | She discovered that he had died after a friend raised the alarm on social media. “I got a message on Facebook expressing concern for Lee on Saturday so I rang the police, and about one hour later that’s when they came and knocked at my door,” she told the Newcastle Chronicle. |
| She said her son’s murder represented a double tragedy for her family as it came just three weeks after the death of her partner, Howard French. “I’ve not even started to recover from that. For the first time in my life I felt like I was worth something but I went from that, from being happy, to this,” she said. | She said her son’s murder represented a double tragedy for her family as it came just three weeks after the death of her partner, Howard French. “I’ve not even started to recover from that. For the first time in my life I felt like I was worth something but I went from that, from being happy, to this,” she said. |
| She also told the paper she had suffered from both breast cancer and mental health problems. She said: “I suffered from depression but this is 10 times worse. I’ve been struggling to get out of bed in the morning.” | She also told the paper she had suffered from both breast cancer and mental health problems. She said: “I suffered from depression but this is 10 times worse. I’ve been struggling to get out of bed in the morning.” |
| She added: “With Lee having learning difficulties I always tried to protect him but it was always a case of what people tried to do to him.” | She added: “With Lee having learning difficulties I always tried to protect him but it was always a case of what people tried to do to him.” |