Three people found dead in County Down flat

The bodies of a man, a woman and a 15-year-old girl have been discovered in a flat in Northern Ireland.

Police are understood to be pursuing double murder and suicide as one line of inquiry, but is unclear how the three people died in Newry, County Down.

Detective Superintendent Jason Murphy has said he is "not currently seeking anyone else" in connection with the deaths.

The man is aged 38, the woman is 37, and it is understood the three people were known to each other.

Flowers were laid outside the flat after the bodies were discovered at around 11am on Thursday.

Officers were called by a concerned relative who hadn't seen the three people for a number of days.

Justin McNulty, the Social Democrat and Labour Party assembly member for Newry and Armagh, said "there is an international dimension" in relation to their nationalities.

He said he believed there was no danger to the public after the deaths, adding: "It was all contained within the apartment."

Mr McNulty continued: "This community is in shock and a dark cloud hangs over Newry this afternoon.

"My thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased."

Forensic investigators have been seen at the block of flats after the bodies were found.

An emotional woman visited the cordon with a child who carried a bunch of flowers.

Mr Murphy said: "The circumstances of the deaths will now be subject to investigation and post-mortem examinations will take place in due course.

"At this stage it would not be appropriate to elaborate further on the circumstances as our inquiries are at an extremely early stage."

Newry is close to Northern Ireland's border with the Irish Republic.