Two die in stabbing incidents

51-year-old was stabbed in house in Newtownards

Two people have been killed in separate stabbing incidents in Northern Ireland.

Three of the four people arrested after a murder in Newtownards, County Down, have been released on police bail following the death of a 51-year-old man.

Hugh McKibben of Main Street in Carrowdore died in the stabbing incident. A fourth man remains in custody.

Police said there was a disturbance at the man's house on Inisharoan Court about midnight on Sunday.

Three hours later, a 34-year-old man was found dead in a house on the Oldpark Road in north Belfast.

The man had suffered stab wounds. Following a postmortem examination, police said a crime was not suspected.

Three people were stabbed at social club

Meanwhile, a man is critically ill in hospital after being stabbed in County Antrim.

Police were called to deal with the trouble at the Standard Social Club in Monkstown at 2300 BST on Sunday.

Two other people were stabbed in the incident which saw a fourth person suffer a fractured skull.

Police have not ruled out a sectarian motive for the disturbance.

An ambulance crew was threatened at knifepoint after being called to the club.

Liam McIvor, director of operations for the Ambulance Service, said the crew was traumatised by the incident.