Priest condemns 'terrible' murder

Hundreds attended Mr O'Hare's funeral

The murder of a pensioner during a robbery at his County Down home has been described as a "terrible crime" on the most vulnerable of people.

Father Jarlath Cushenhan was speaking during Requiem Mass for Ted O'Hare, 73, who was found dead by his three elderly brothers at their farmhouse on the Tullymore Road, in Loughbrickland last Saturday.

The three were confronted by a gang of five masked men after they arrived home from Mass at about 2000 GMT.

Following a struggle, the gang fled from the house and the pensioners found their brother's body.

On Friday, hundreds of mourners followed Mr O'Hare's coffin from his home to the Church of John the Evangelist in the village of Glen.

Leaflet distribution

Two of his five elderly brothers, who were attacked at the weekend, walked behind the coffin.

Father Cushenhan said the killing had devastated Mr O'Hare's family and shocked the entire community.

He added: "This was a dreadful attack on vulnerable, defenceless senior citizens."

Mr O'Hare was buried in a nearby cemetery.

On Thursday, police confirmed that they were treating the investigation into the death as a murder inquiry.

The police have received the preliminary results from a post-mortem examination, but it has not been made public how Mr O'Hare died.

Police will be distributing leaflets throughout the area this weekend to try to jog people's memories about the incident.

The pensioner had suffered from a heart condition and was only discharged from hospital following treatment several days before his death.

Two of his brothers were treated in hospital following the robbery, but were later discharged while the third man was treated by a doctor at the scene.