'Sadness, shock, disbelief' at pensioner's violent death

A community in the North has been stunned by the violent death of a pensioner on her 75th birthday.

Seventy-five-year-old Annie McCartan was stabbed and beaten to death in her Co Down home on Thursday afternoon.

Mrs McCartan, who lived alone, was found in her bathroom by relatives who had called at her house with birthday presents.

Police have set up patrols in the quiet residential area in Warrenpoint, Co Down. Detective Superintendent Tim Hanley said: “We would ask people to remain calm and I can assure the community we are deploying all necessary resources.

“Terrible crimes against vulnerable members of the community do occur and cause alarm but they are very rare.”

Mrs McCartan had 13 children and was widowed around 20 years ago.

Canon John Kearney of St Peter’s Catholic Church, Warrenpoint said the whole community was stunned by her death.

The parish priest said: “There is a great sense of sadness, shock and disbelief that a very quiet, simple woman should have been hurt in this way. The community is just numbed by it all.”

Arrangements for the pensioner’s funeral have yet to be finalised as a number of her children live overseas.

Canon Kearney paid tribute to Mrs McCartan and confirmed prayers will be offered for her at weekend masses.

He said: “She was a very gentle, unassuming woman whose sole interest in life was her family.”