Man still held over town murder

The body of Shaun Fitzpatrick, 32, was found in an alleyway off the Donaghmore Road in the town at about 0340 GMT on Sunday. He had been beaten to death.

The results of a post-mortem examination are due to be released later.

Parish priest Father Peter McAnenly said: "It's been a very tragic, harrowing time for the family."

Father McAnenly said people in the area were "numbed and saddened".

"I met many people going to church on Easter Sunday morning who were really in a state of disbelief after the great tragedy which has unfolded here," he said.

Police said Mr Fitzpatrick, who was a shop manager and lived in the nearby Lisnahull estate, had suffered a "vicious assault".

He was attacked on his way home after spending the evening in a local bar. Detectives said they were trying to establish a motive.

CCTV footage of the area is being examined, while forensics experts carried out tests at the scene.

Police are appealing for anyone who was in the area between 0200 and 0400 GMT and noticed any suspicious activity to contact them.

Detective Inspector Gareth Nicholl said: "It was a particularly brutal attack, and the people who committed this need to be caught."

Condemning the killing, local MP Michelle Gildernew of Sinn Fein said: "I would encourage anyone with any information to bring it forward to the PSNI and ensure that those responsible for this attack are quickly apprehended and brought before the courts."

DUP assembly member Lord Morrow said he was "deeply shocked and concerned at the level of viciousness".

SDLP assembly member Tommy Gallagher said the murder was "clearly an act of extreme savagery".

Ulster Unionist assembly member Tom Elliott said it had left people in fear.