Murdered man Stephen Brannigan was ‘much loved’

PA MediaA forensic group have been on the home in Marian Park on Monday morningThe man who was murdered in Downpatrick, County Down, on Sunday has been remembered as a a lot beloved father and a loving grandfather. Stephen Brannigan was in his 50s, police say.Officers went to a home in Marian Park at about 12:00 BST on Sunday after a report {that a} physique had been discovered.Police mentioned the homicide could also be linked to the assault on a neighborhood priest, in St Patrick’s Church within the city.A 30-year-old man has been arrested over the homicide in addition to on suspicion of the tried homicide of Fr John Murray. He stays in custody. In a demise discover, Mr Brannigan was remembered as a “dearly beloved” husband, a “a lot beloved” father of two daughters and a “loving grandfather” of six. Police are interesting to anybody who was within the St Patrick’s Avenue space of Downpatrick between 09:00 and 11:00 BST on Sunday, or the Marian Park space between 00:00 and 12:00 on Sunday, to return ahead.Marian Park is a small housing property excessive above Downpatrick, simply off Saul Avenue and overlooking the enjoying fields on the Lecale Trinity faculty.There might be an elevated police presence within the space over the following few days, they added.The physique was discovered at Marian Park on SundaySpeaking to BBC Information NI on Monday, Social Democratic and Labour Celebration (SDLP) councillor Conor Galbraith mentioned the sufferer was a neighborhood painter and decorator. “He was at all times simply referred to as a quiet lad up within the Marion Park space and at all times prepared to assist out every time the neighbours wanted it,” he mentioned. He met the sufferer’s two daughters on Sunday and described them as “completely, completely devastated”. Councillor Conor Galbraith described the sufferer as a “quiet lad” A whole lot of individuals attended a vigil in St Brigid’s Church in Downpatrick on Sunday night.”That appeared to carry the group collectively to offer them the chance to assist each other as nicely,” he mentioned. “It was simply very nice to see the group come collectively after such horrible incidents yesterday.”Bishop Alan McGuckian mentioned he has not spoken to the Brannigan household but, however added the native clergy is “searching for them”. “I hope to go to Downpatrick tomorrow, to see the household of Stephen Brannigan,” Bishop McGuckian instructed BBC Radio Ulster’s Night Further programme. “I’m going to say mass with the group and attain out to the household and to everybody who’s so shocked by what has occurred.”