Belfast murders: Man arrested after couple stabbed to death in flat

'Tragic scene' as bodies found in home days before Christmas

A police officer lifts the cordon tape for forensic officers as they enter a building on Kinnaird Close in Belfast, after the bodies of a man and a woman were found in an apartment (Liam McBurney/PA Wire)

A man has been arrested after two bodies were found inside a flat in Belfast.

The victims, a man and woman, are reported to have been stabbed to death in Kinnaird Close, north Belfast.

They were found dead by a member of the public on Monday afternoon, causing police to evacuate nearby homes amid a major operation.

A 35-year-old man has been arrested and was taken into custody for questioning, as forensic investigations continued at the flat.

Police named the victims as Frances Murray, 37, and Joseph Dutton, 47.

Det Ch Insp Peter Montgomery said investigators believe that “some form of altercation” took place within the flat.

“While post-mortem examinations have not yet taken place, I am treating their deaths as murder," he added.

“I would also like to thank the local community for their patience and support while the investigation into this tragic incident continues.

“The information they have provided to my detectives to date has been invaluable, however we still need people to get in touch and tell us what they know and I want to make a number of specific appeals in a bid to establish the circumstances of exactly what happened."

Police are appealing for anyone who saw someone leaving the flats on Monday morning to come forward, and are trying to locate a bag of blood-soaked clothing they believe was discarded in the local area.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said it received a 999 call shortly after 1pm.

"Following assessment and initial treatment at the scene, no one was transferred to hospital," a statement added.

A local councillor said there was “anger and sadness” in the community.

Paul McCusker told the PA news agency: "Just a few days before Christmas this is the worst kind of news for any family.”

The Irish nationalist Social Democratic and Labour Party said the victims were a couple who were both “characters” and well known in the area.

“A few days before Christmas this couple's poor family will get this devastating and horrific news that they have died in such conditions,” a representative added.

Sinn Fein councillor JJ Magee said it was a “tragic scene”, and that many children would have been in the area at the time because of the Christmas holidays.

“Absolutely shocked, the community is shocked by the news that has come from this very, very serious situation,” he added. “It is an absolute tragic event.”

Additional reporting by PA