News

Victim Eddie Girvan suffered 'painful and violent death'

Murder victim Eddie Girvan
Murder victim Eddie Girvan Murder victim Eddie Girvan

A MURDERED pensioner who was stabbed in the chest and found tied to a chair suffered a "painful and violent death", police said.

Detectives were continuing to question three people about the murder last night after the body of Eddie Girvan (67) was found at 9.30pm on Monday.

He was only discovered when police making inquiries about a person stopped in Belfast called at his house in Greenisland, Co Antrim.

Mr Girvan was last seen at around 2.30pm on Sunday afternoon. His whereabouts after that are not known. However, his silver Hyundai Sonata with registration MKZ 9818 was seen being "driven dangerously" leaving Greenisland on Monday morning.

It was later recovered by police around 10 miles away on Verner Street in Belfast city centre. Police carried out a raid on premises in the street yesterday evening.

Neighbours of Mr Girvan said last night they were stunned to learn of the murder in a quiet residential area

A 29-year-old woman and two men, aged 23 and 24, were being questioned on suspicion of murder yesterday evening.

Police are trying to establish a motive for the brutal killing.

Mr Girvan, a separated father of two, was an antiques enthusiast but nothing of note was stolen from the property.

The pensioner was well known in the area and had lived in the same house for decades.

Detective Chief Inspector John McVea, said it was a "horrific crime" and Mr Girvan had suffered a "painful and violent death".

Alliance MLA Stewart Dickson, a friend of the murdered man, said "reclusive" Mr Girvan had been a handyman but later retired.

"My thoughts are with his family at this terrible time," he said.