POLICE have been granted an additional 36 hours to question a man in connection with the murder of Alice Morrow (53) in east Belfast.
The grandmother, whose body was discovered at her Whincroft Way home in east Belfast's Braniel estate, is the sixth woman to have been killed in their homes in Ireland in the first three months of the year.
A 42-year-old man arrested on suspicion of murder remains in custody.
Police have not yet said how Ms Morrow, who was originally from the Belvoir estate in south Belfast, died.
Detectives from the major investigation team have appealed for witnesses to contact them.
Her death came just three days after Giselle (Irina) Marimon Herrera (37) and her 15-year-old daughter Allison were murdered at their Glin Ree Court apartment in Newry by Russell Steele.
The 38-year-old was also found dead, having taken his own life.
SDLP policing and justice spokeswoman Dolores Kelly said there is an urgent need for the return of the assembly to bring forward legislation to protect victims of domestic violence.
"We all have a duty to ensure that we do not become desensitised to these horrific murders, where women are being killed in what should always be a safe space - their own home," she said.
"As a society we must speak up and speak out against all types of violence, but in particular domestic violence which can too easily be hidden and swept under a rug.
"It is almost impossible to put into words the grave injustice facing victims of domestic violence, that in the continued political stalemate we have no vehicle to drive forward new legislation that better protects victims.
"... We need an assembly back to ensure that as elected representatives we are doing all we can to bring an end to this madness."
