Police have released further details following the double murder of an elderly couple in Portadown on Friday afternoon.
Detectives are particularly keen on getting the public’s help in tracing the movements of a grey Renault Kango van, belonging to the deceased.
The pair have been named locally as Michael and Lillian Cawdrey.
At a press conference in Portadown on Friday night, Detective Superintendent Kevin Geddes described the double murder as a “very brutal attack”.
Detective Superintendent Kevin Geddes said: “Police were called to an address in the Upper Ramone Park area of the town at around 3.40pm this afternoon.
“On arrival, officers found the bodies of an elderly man and woman in the house. We are treating their deaths as murder.
“Earlier in the day, at around 12.20pm, we had a report of a male breaking into a car in the Upper Ramone Park area. We are appealing for anyone who saw any suspicious activity in the area between 11am and 5pm today to get in touch with police on the number 101.
“The family car belonging to the deceased, a grey Renault Kango van, registration NJZ 6101 was taken from the house and later found at around 5pm in the Edenderry Gardens area.
“We need to know the movements of this car from the time it left Upper Ramone Park until it was recovered in Edenderry Gardens. Again, please get in touch with detectives on 101 if you saw it in the Portadown area today between 3.30pm – 5pm.
“A 40 year old man was arrested at around 5pm this afternoon in the Springfields area of Portadown. If anyone saw anything suspicious in and around the Edenderry or Springfields areas this afternoon, please let us know.
“I would reassure the public that we now have one person in custody and we will have extra police patrols in the Portadown area.
“Anyone with information should contact police on the non-emergency number 101. Or, if you would prefer to provide information without giving your details, you can contact the independent charity Crimestoppers and speak to them anonymously on 0800 555 111.”
