By Lisa Ramsden
Residents of the sleepy Slievenabrock Avenue could never have imagined what they would be waking up to on a peaceful bank holiday. And, even with the news breaking of Sean Small’s death, many were totally unaware of what had unfolded just metres from their doors in the area, which is home to many retired couples and young families.
There remained an eerie stillness to the area, despite police having woken some neighbours up overnight when they came to their doors asking questions. Just two PSNI crews, plus crime scene investigators dressed in their protective suits and who were seen entering the victim’s bungalow via a back door, stood guard early on Monday. In addition, the front of two properties along the street—the crime scene and the property next door—were cordoned off.
People were walking their dogs, deliveries were being made, and residents were waking up or going about their general business in the normally tranquil Tullybrannigan area of the town when news of the shocking crime was confirmed. The victim, who turned 84 earlier this month, was discovered the previous night. The alarm was raised around 10.30pm, with police responding to a report “that a man had been found dead” at the address.
Those living in the area have spoken of their shock and concern at what has happened, with one describing how the news sent shockwaves through the community. “We are very worried, how could we not be,” she said. “This is absolutely shocking. It’s horrifying. It was very distressing news to wake to; it makes you start thinking are any of us safe, especially with whoever did this at large,” the resident added.
Another homeowner added that the residential area, just a few minutes’ drive from the town’s Main Street—which throughout Monday was, in stark contrast, packed with visitors making the most of their day off work—“is so quiet,” and people “enjoy living in such a peaceful part of town.” He added: “It’s very hard to take it all in. The words ‘murder’ and ‘Slievenabrock Avenue’ just don’t tally up.”
Admitting that “of course people are very, very scared,” and that “there is a huge amount of worry, shock and concern,” the local man continued: “You think of somewhere being the scene of a crime of this extent, and then this place is the absolute opposite. That’s why people like me chose to live here.” He concluded: “Really, this is beyond belief. It’s beyond your worst nightmares. It’s hard not to stop your mind from going into overdrive, and people, me included, are left fearing the worst. How could we not worry about who is out there, and whether we are safe in our homes.”
The deceased, a widower, had relatively recently returned to his home after serving a prison sentence for sexually assaulting a teenage girl and a vulnerable woman. In July 2022, he received a six-year sentence at Newry Crown Court, half of which was spent in custody, for crimes he committed between September 2016 and April 2018. He confessed to 10 offences.
Confirming on Monday that a murder investigation had been launched, Detective Inspector Kerrie Foreman, of the PSNI’s Major Investigation Team, took steps to reassure what she described as “this close-knit community.” The high-ranking officer also acknowledged that news of the death would “cause shock and concern.”
In a statement issued at 10.20am, DCI Foreman said police received a report at around 10.30pm on Sunday “that a man had been found dead in the Slievenabrock Avenue area.” She added: “We understand this news will cause shock and concern within this close-knit community of Newcastle. Local people will see our officers in and around the area – with cordons still in place today.”
Within minutes of the news breaking, local SDLP MLA Colin McGrath described the incident as “deeply shocking” and said the local community is “stunned to be waking up to this on a Bank Holiday Monday.” Mr McGrath continued: “For such a violent death to occur in Newcastle will understandably cause concern and I would ask people to avoid speculation and to remain calm. It is vital that the police are given every piece of information they need to carry out their investigation. Anyone who can assist should come forward without delay.”
