Fresh appeal in murder hunt

A forensic scientist gathers evidence at murder scene

Police in Northern Ireland have issued a fresh appeal for information about the murder of a 34-year-old man in County Antrim.

The body of Paul Gault, a father of triplets, was found in an upstairs bedroom of his home at Audley Avenue in Lisburn on Friday by his wife and a neighbour.

It is understood he had suffered serious head injuries.

Paul Gault: Murder victim

No motive for the murder has yet been established.

RUC Detective Chief Inspector Philip Wright said the murder happened between 0900 BST and 1100 BST.

"Being a busy area there are people living in the area, travelling through the area, working in the area, visiting in the area," he said.

"We'd like to ask all those people to make contact with us. Maybe they don't think they have seen anything particularly suspicious.

Det Chief Inspector Philip Wright: Renewed appeal

"But it may contain the information which is vital to the investigation."

Mr Gault's wife is thought to have returned home about 1100 BST on the day in question, after leaving the three children to school.

She found the glass in the back door of the house had been smashed and thought it was being burgled.

She went to a neighbour for help and when they returned to the house, the neighbour went upstairs and found the victim lying dead in a bedroom.

Alice Murray, who lives in the street, said on Friday that neighbours had been deeply shocked at what had happened.

"My next-door neighbour ran up and he found him. Then a lady across the road who is a nurse went up. It's absolutely awful for a young family - the children are just in P1."

RUC officers have carried out door-to-door inquiries in the quiet residential area, in a search for witnesses.