Attack at Dungannon house leaves father dead, daughter seriously injured

An eight-year-old girl is in a stable condition in hospital after being seriously injured in an attack at a house in Lisnahull Road in Dungannon, Co Tyrone, on Saturday morning, in which her 61-year-old father was killed.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) said the quick actions of police officers and paramedics gave the girl a "fighting chance of survival." Superintendent Peter Stevenson, the PSNI's Mid Ulster District commander, told a press conference: "I have no doubt that their quick actions gave the young girl a fighting chance of survival. She is now in a stable condition in hospital."

Emergency services were called to the scene shortly after 11am on Saturday. A neighbour had phoned police after hearing a woman inside the house screaming for help. Officers arrived to find the body of a man aged 61, his 48-year-old wife, who had sustained non-life-threatening injuries, and their severely injured eight-year-old daughter. Police officers gave first aid to the girl before she was rushed to hospital in Belfast.

The girl's mother was also taken to hospital and treated for non-life-threatening injuries. A report by ie said the woman, understood to be the wife of the deceased, has since been released from hospital.

The man who died has not been named. ie reported that he was a native of Guinea-Bissau who had called Northern Ireland his home for more than two decades.

Arrest and investigation

A 16-year-old boy was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder. Police were granted additional time to question him; the PSNI confirmed on Monday that they had been granted a further 36 hours for questioning, according to ie. ie reported that the boy was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder, and that police had been granted more time to question him.

Superintendent Stevenson confirmed the arrest and said the teenager remained in custody. He extended sympathies to the family, saying specialist officers are supporting the wider family circle and that the PSNI is liaising with the relevant consulate.

"We would ask that the public avoid speculation," he said. "I want to repeat that we do not believe that there is any ongoing risk to the public and, at this stage, we are not looking for anyone else in connection with the investigation."

Floral tributes have been left outside the house, which remains cordoned off as the investigation continues, ie reported.