Murder probe launched after homeless man found dead in Maghera

By David Hunter

A murder investigation's been launched following the discovery of a vulnerable Polish man's body in Maghera. 

Piotr Krowka, who was in his 30's, was found with serious head and body injuries at the former parochial house on Glen Road on Tuesday. 

Police want to trace the homeless man's activities between Good Friday and Easter Tuesday.

Detective Chief Inspector Geoff Boyce from PSNI Major Investigation Team said: “I can now confirm we are treating this as a murder investigation following the results of his post mortem. The victim has been named as Piotr Krowka, who is understood to be aged in his late thirties. 

“Piotr was a vulnerable homeless man from the Polish community who had been living in Maghera for a number of years."

It's understood Mr Krowka had been sleeping rough in the derelict property which local people will know was a former Parochial House.

“He suffered serious injuries to his head and body and we are working to establish the circumstances of this incident and determine the precise sequence of events that culminated in the tragic death of this man" said DCI Boyce.

“I am keen to identify Piotr's movements between Good Friday and Easter Tuesday when his body was discovered and I would appeal to anyone who was in contact with or who may have witnessed Piotr during this time to please contact us."