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Murder victim Anne O'Neill 'knew her killer'

Anne O'Neill was attacked at Ardmore Avenue in Belfast on Saturday
Anne O'Neill was attacked at Ardmore Avenue in Belfast on Saturday Anne O'Neill was attacked at Ardmore Avenue in Belfast on Saturday

MURDER victim Anne O'Neill is believed to have known her killer.

Two men, aged 23 and 27, were still being held on Monday night after detectives were given extra time to question them.

Ms O'Neill (51) was found with head injuries in the back garden of her parents' home in Finaghy in west Belfast early on Saturday.

Residents had heard her desperate pleas for help and there was speculation that she may have been able to tell emergency services who was responsible for the attack before she died.

Neighbours also said it is believed the retired nurse, who was in poor health, knew her attacker.

They have described how they heard Ms O'Neill's desperate pleas for help in Ardmore Avenue at around 7am.

The house is owned by her parents, George and Clare Burleigh.

Despite treatment at the scene, she was pronounced dead.

A police presence remained in Ardmore Avenue yesterday with police tape across the detached bungalow where Ms O'Neill was found.

Resident Gerard Crilly told The Irish News how neighbours have been left stunned by the tragedy.

"This is a quiet area - we have lived here for 27 years and it's all retired people who live along here, there's never anything that happens," he said.

"I heard a commotion outside on Saturday morning and looked out and the place was filled with police cars and the emergency services.

"We would know her parents to see and say hello too, what a terrible tragedy for them."

Mr Crilly said police searches were later carried out in several hedges and gardens near his home.

"I'm not sure what exactly they were looking for, but I assume a weapon of some description," he said.

"I don't know whether they found anything. They were also looking along the back of the houses where it happened."

Another resident, who did not want to be named, said Ms O'Neill's death was "absolutely shocking".

"It's horrific what has happened," she said.

"You would have seen her going in and out of her parents' house.

"She was a quiet woman, it's terribly sad."

Less than two hours after the discovery of Ms O'Neill, who lived close to her parents in the Drenia area, just off Brooke Drive, police searched a house in the Malone Avenue area and arrested two men.

It was reported that forensic searches were carried out at the property.

Sinn Féin councillor Geraldine McAteer said "people are profoundly and deeply shocked" by Ms O'Neill's murder.

"This is a lovely part of my constituency, it is a very settled area - you would have a mix of people that are retired and young couples that are moving in with children," she said.

"I contacted a local counselling organisation, Lenadoon Community Counselling, to see if they would have any counsellors on standby in case people are traumatised because this sort of thing would live with you.

"Ms O'Neill - 51 - her life still well ahead of her.

"By all accounts, she was a quiet person who took her responsibilities to her parents seriously, stayed and looked after them, so to lose her life in such a brutal way is a tragedy."

SDLP assembly member Claire Hanna also said: "People are completely shocked and saddened by what has happened.

"Finaghy has always been a safe, settled area and it will continue to be. I would appeal for anyone who can help police to get in contact with them."