Man charged over murder of east Belfast grandmother

Q Radio news

A man has been charged with the murder of Alice Morrow in east Belfast. 

The 53-year old grandmother was found dead at a property in Whincroft Way late on Sunday evening. 

Police believe she was the victim of a fatal assault. 

A 42-year-old man will appear before Belfast magistrates court later. 

Detective Chief Inspector Pete Montgomery said: “My thoughts today are very much with Alice’s family and friends who are trying to come to terms with their loss.  She was a mother of 3, a grandmother of 3 and a sister.

“Alice’s body was discovered  in her flat at Whincroft Way, East Belfast on Sunday, 10 March.  I believe that she may have been murdered sometime between 12 noon and 8pm that day. 

“My investigations are ongoing at this time and I am following a number of lines of enquiry, however I know that at 8.45pm on Saturday 9^th March Alice travelled from the direction of the Bevloir area to Ballyduff where she visited friends. She drove her car in both directions, a Silver Peugeot 106, registration FCZ 1913.

“She was last seen on CCTV at 2.52am at Brackenvale Eurospar on Saintfield Road where she purchased a number of items and then headed in the direction of Belfast.

“Today I have a number of appeals to make to help trace Alice’s last movements. 

• Did you see Alice on Saturday in her car, a Silver Peugeot 106 FCZ 1913 in the Bevloir area or in the Ballyduff area/?
• Did you see her on Sunday 10 March, if so where?  She may have been walking her two Jack Russell dogs. Was she with anyone or did you talk to her?
• Did you see anyone enter or leave her home at 14 E Whincroft Way on Sunday?
• Did you hear or see an altercation in her home 14 E Whincroft Way on Sunday?

“I would appeal to anyone who has any information, no matter how insignificant they think it is, to contact us.   Your information could be key in bringing Alice’s murderer to justice.