A murder investigation has been initiated by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) following the death of a man who was assaulted during a break-in at an apartment building in east Belfast. The incident occurred in the Holywood Road area, with emergency services responding to reports of an assault in the early hours of Tuesday, 12th May.
Victim Identified
The victim has been named as 51-year-old Nicholas Gordon, also known as Nicky. He was taken to hospital after the attack but sadly succumbed to his injuries. The PSNI have expressed their condolences to his family, stating: "Our thoughts are with his family at this incredibly difficult time."
Arrests Made
In connection with the incident, a 24-year-old man and a 49-year-old woman were arrested on suspicion of aggravated burglary with intent to commit grievous bodily harm. Both individuals have since been released on bail pending further enquiries, police confirmed.
The PSNI spokesperson detailed the timeline: "We received a report at around 8.25am on Tuesday, 12th May of an assault in the Holywood Road area, where a number of intruders had entered an apartment building and attacked another male, before making off. We believe the assault took place at around 4.45am that morning."
Appeal for Witnesses
The police have launched a murder investigation and are appealing for witnesses or anyone with information to come forward. They are particularly interested in any CCTV, dashcam, or doorbell footage from the Holywood Road area on 12th May. Anyone with information is urged to contact detectives on 101, quoting reference 224 of 12/05/26.
