Northern Ireland

Mark Ward jailed for 16 years over Marcell Seeley murder

Marcell 'Junior' Seeley (34), who was found dead in his flat in the Tagnaven estate in Lurgan in 2015
Marcell 'Junior' Seeley (34), who was found dead in his flat in the Tagnaven estate in Lurgan in 2015 Marcell 'Junior' Seeley (34), who was found dead in his flat in the Tagnaven estate in Lurgan in 2015

A MAN has been sentenced to at least 16 years in prison for beating 34-year-old Marcell Seeley to death in his home in Lurgan, Co Armagh.

Mark Daniel Ward (26) from Drumellan Gardens, Craigavon, was found guilty in June this year of murdering Mr Seeley in October 2015.

The remains of the 34-year-old father of four, who was known as Junior, were found in the living room of his Dingwell Park flat in the Tagnaven estate in Lurgan, with the cause of death determined as blunt force trauma to the head.

Mark Ward is sentenced to minimum of 16yrs in prison for the murder of Marcell Seeley in Lurgan 2 years ago. He was beaten & kicked to death pic.twitter.com/pVXmU4VEgN — David Hunter (@davidhunter7) October 10, 2017

He also suffered two fractured ribs and extensive bruising all over his body.

Telling Mark Ward there were "no mitigating factors" in his favour, Mr Justice Treacy told the killer that not only did he "abandon" the dying Marcell Seeley after attacking him, but that he also failed to call an ambulance or get assistance.

The scene in Lurgan where Marcell Seeley's body was found. Picture by Philp Walsh
The scene in Lurgan where Marcell Seeley's body was found. Picture by Philp Walsh The scene in Lurgan where Marcell Seeley's body was found. Picture by Philp Walsh

In a victim statement, one of Mr Seeley's teenage daughters told the court the murder had a 'devastating' impact on her life.

"He has been stolen from me and all that’s left in his place is the suffocating reality that is his absence," she said.

Police released CCTV footage showing Mark Ward on the night of Marcell Seeley's murder

"To say I miss him is such a huge understatement of the truth, it’s an insult to his memory. My dad meant everything to me. He made me feel safe and loved. He was my best friend.”

Mr Seeley's sister Carrai Doran said: “Every time I close my eyes I can see Junior lying on his floor and that’s something that will always be with me. Brothers and sisters are meant to grow old together, to help look after their parents, to watch their children grow up together.”

Following today's sentencing, Detective Chief Inspector Eamonn Corrigan, from PSNI’s Serious Crime Branch, said: “This is a very sad case, and first and foremost today our sympathies go to Marcell’s children, parents, brothers and sisters, wider family and his friends, who continue to come to terms with his death.

“The one place you should feel safe is your own home and that’s where Marcell was when Mark Ward brutally killed him."