Dungannon: Child in 'critical' condition as police continue murder investigation

A child remains in a critical condition and a murder investigation under way following an incident at a house in Dungannon .

Police say the body of a man was found alongside the injured child, understood to be a girl, at a property in Lisnahull Road at about 11:00 BST on Saturday.

A woman who had sustained non-life threatening injuries during the incident has been released from hospital.

A male who was arrested on suspicion of murder and attempted murder remains in custody.

"The cause of the man's death has not yet been formally established and post-mortem examinations will take place in due course," Det Ch Insp Robinson of the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) added.

"As such, it would be inappropriate to comment further and I would ask that the public avoid speculation until we can provide further updates.

"However, I want to reassure the public that we do not believe that there is any ongoing risk, and at this stage we are not seeking anyone else in relation to the deaths.

"Our thoughts are very much with the family and friends of those involved."

BBC News NI understands the man who died was from Guinea-Bissau, but had lived in Northern Ireland for more than two decades.

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said they received a 999 call at 11:08 BST on Saturday, following reports of an incident.

They dispatched a helicopter crew, three emergency crews, one advanced care paramedic, two ambulance officers and one HART (Hazardous Area Response Team) crew to the scene.

Sinn Féin assembly member Colm Gildernew said Lisnahull is a "very close community" and that people in the area would reach out to those affected to support them.

"These incidents are dreadful anywhere they happen, it has hit the town of Dungannon at this point in time and the community here will react and respond to that."

Sinn Féin councillor Deirdre Varsani said on Saturday that there was "huge shock" in the local community at what had happened.

She added there was "huge concern" for the families affected and for the injured child, adding that those impacted faced a "number of weeks and months" dealing with the trauma.

Varsani also urged people to avoid speculation, adding: "Your thoughts really should be with anybody who has been injured, anybody who witnessed it or anybody who has been impacted by it."

Independent councillor Barry Monteith said people in the area were "dismayed".

He said the community would have to "support people the best they can" in the aftermath of the incident.

Monteith also called for a "little bit of restraint until the proper facts emerge", adding that rumours and speculation on social media did not help grieving families or those coming to terms with what had happened.

Alliance Party assembly member Connie Egan said it was "incredibly distressing and shocking news".

"My thoughts are with everyone affected, especially the child who has sadly been injured. I wish them a full recovery.

"I would urge people to follow the advice of the PSNI while the investigation continues and to avoid the area, and to please refrain from any speculation during this very difficult time."

Murder investigation after man found dead and child seriously injured