Man quizzed in pensioner murder probe

Detectives questioned a man today in a major new breakthrough in their investigation into the murder of a pensioner and the rape of his sister.

The man, aged 42 and single, was detained by detectives investigating the murder of retired postmaster Patrick McGrath in the Coalisland area of Co Tyrone just before Christmas.

Detectives believe the 76-year-old pensioner was suffocated in his bed after an intruder forced his way into the home he shared with his sister on the Mountjoy Road in Killeen on December 19.

Mr McGrath’s sister, Philomena, was raped, beaten and thrown down the stairs before being left for dead. She suffered serious head injuries and broken bones during her horrifying ordeal.

The senior detective in the case said it was one of the most “vile and appalling” crimes he had ever investigated.

In a bid to identify the killer, detectives launched a mass DNA screening of males in the area in January.

To date, up to 600 men and teenagers have come forward for voluntary DNA testing.

It was the first time large-scale DNA screening had been used in Northern Ireland since the search for the murder of a baby found dead at Carryduff on the outskirts of Belfast in 2002.

Police assured those who co-operated that the samples would not be added to the DNA database and would not be checked against other crimes.

In addition the office of the Police Ombudsman was brought in to independently verify the destruction of all samples.

The murder of Mr McGrath, a well-known and respected figure in the area, sent shockwaves through the tiny rural community of Killeen.

The officer leading the murder hunt, Detective Superintendent Derek Williamson, said at the time: “This ranks amongst one of the most appalling and vile crimes I have encountered and we urgently need the co-operation and assistance of the public to bring to justice the person responsible.”