Woman questioned after backpacker's murder

A woman was being questioned tonight about the murder of an American backpacker outside a Belfast hostel.

Ashly Roland, a 29-year-old woman from New Mexico, was found with head wounds in the city’s university district.

She had been staying at Arnie’s Backpackers as part of a month-long visit to the UK.

As police sealed off the area around the 22-bed Victorian townhouse to begin a hunt for clues, officers were seeking witnesses to the incident.

Ms Roland’s parents have been given the heartbreaking news by US Consulate officials, although it was unclear if they planned to fly to Northern Ireland.

Ashly’s friends in New Mexico sent emails to media organisations in Belfast to try to find out what had happened.

The victim, who came to the city from Scotland, was involved in an incident on Sunday night that led to her death.

It is understood the woman arrested was not staying at the hostel.

No one was available for comment today at Arnie’s, where guests had been moved to other accommodation.

But three horrified Swedish women saw the crime scene as they headed for another hostel a few doors along Fitzwilliam Street.

One of them, who would not give her name, said they would have moved on had they not already paid for their two-night booking.

Gary Burrows, manager at their destination, Paddy’s Palace, was shocked by the killing.

Defending the area’s record, he said: “All the backpackers who come through here always say how safe they felt.

“This is sending out a message that isn’t really true.”

An Australian couple only realised what had happened as they were checking out.

Alison McLaurin, 24, and her 23-year-old fiance Peter McKenzie, both nurses from Tasmania, refused to let the death spoil their memories of Belfast.

“We wouldn’t care if we had to stay another night,” said Mr McKenzie. “We felt more at ease here than Glasgow where we were before.”

But a former Belfast Lord Mayor said the killing would generate terrible publicity.

Ulster Unionist councillor Bob Stoker said: “This sends out a terrible message to the rest of the world.

“Even though the Troubles are over there’s still a chance you go to Belfast and you will be murdered.”