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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
National
Damien Edgar

Portadown murder - Child in hospital and community shocked as mother murdered

A Portadown community is in complete shock after the murder of a 37-year-old mother in the town on Tuesday morning.

Belfast Live understands a 12-year-old child was taken to hospital as a precautionary measure following the tragic incident.

A fire was reported at a house on Church Street at around 2.15am on Tuesday, with all three emergency services tasked to the incident.

Read more: Portadown murder investigation launched after death of woman in her 30s

Sadly the woman in her 30s, understood to be the child's mother, died at the scene.

One local woman spoke to Belfast Live and said the thought of a child being caught up in such an horrific case was very upsetting.

"That's that child scarred for life now and all I can say is that I pass my sympathies on to the poor family," she said.

"It's absolutely shocking, I wasn't expecting to wake up this morning and see all this.

"I've never seen so many of those people in white [forensic teams].

"It's just like the whole town is in shock, you definitely wouldn't think it would happen around here, it's so quiet."

Another passer-by said he had had an anxious wait this morning as he tried to find out where exactly the fire had been, as he knew someone that lived quite close by.

"Obviously I was very shocked at the fact it happened," he said.

"It beggars belief why anyone would think they could take someone's life.

"No matter what has happened, it doesn't matter, at the end of the day they don't have the right to kill someone.

"Portadown is a nice place to live in the majority of the time, but this isn't something anyone should have to witness."

Local DUP Councillor Kyle Moutray told Belfast Live the thoughts and prayers of the community were with the family affected.

"We're just on the outskirts of the town centre and it's quite a close-knit community and I've certainly on social media today, the outpouring of sadness and grief right across the community," he said.

"Obviously my first concern is that people cooperate, allow the police to continue their ongoing investigations and allow justice to be served.

"We have to recognise as well that no amount of justice will replace the grief that's shared here today.

"My heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the family involved today."

The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service confirmed it had attended the scene on Tuesday morning.

"NIAS despatched two Ambulances and the Hazardous Area Response Team to the scene of the incident," a spokesperson said.

"Following assessment and initial treatment at the scene, one patient was taken to Craigavon Area Hospital by Ambulance."

The PSNI is continuing to investigate the woman's murder and have appealed for anyone with information to come forward.

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