ballymena

The PSNI is appealing for witnesses to come forward.

LAST UPDATE | 14 Jul

POLICE INVESTIGATING THE death of a Polish family of three in Ballymena, including an 8-year-old girl, are treating the case as potentially one of double murder followed by a sudden death. 

A PSNI spokesperson has confirmed that a man aged 41, a woman aged 39 and an 8-year-old girl, all from the same family, were discovered deceased at a property in the Old Culleybackey road area yesterday at around 9am after police received a report of a sudden death. 

Mid & East Antrim District Commander Superintendent William Calderwood today said that while investigating officers are awaiting the results of postmortem investigations, a “strong hypothesis” is that this was a “double murder followed by a sudden death”. 

He added that police are not looking for anyone else in connection with the deaths. 

Calderwood expressed his sympathies to the family members and loved ones who will “inevitably be struggling to come to terms with their unimaginable loss”. 

He added that specialist officers are supporting the families of the deceased, and said that the PSNI is asking for public speculation to be avoided as police make efforts to contact those who live outside of Northern Ireland in relation to the deaths. 

It is understood that the eight-year-old girl was born in Northern Ireland, while the male and female found dead at the property were Polish citizens. 

A pair of child’s sandals on a washing line at the scene in the Old Cullybackey Road area of Ballymena. PA PA

Honorary Consul for Poland in Northern Ireland, Jerome Mullem, told The Journal that it is a “dreadful, tragic event that we are all devastated by”.

He expressed his ”sincere condolences to the wider family of the victims” and added that it is an “absolutely a shocking event and something that I’ve never experienced in all of my 18 years as honorary consul”.

“It’s dreadful for the wider family circle that will be receiving news.”

This morning, police tape remained outside the property on the Old Cullybackey Road.

Toys could be seen outside the house and a pair of pink and blue child’s sandals were drying on a washing line.

Calderwood said that the first responding officers who attended the scene are being offered trauma focused care. 

The PSNI is appealing for anyone with relevant information to come forward. 

“Any information, no matter how small or insignificant it may seem, could prove crucial to our investigation.

 “You can contact us on 101, quoting reference 482 13/07/26, or use our witness appeal form at https://reporting.psni.police.uk/appeals,” Calderwood said. 

If you have been affected by any of the issues mentioned in this article, you can reach out for support through the following helplines. These organisations also put people in touch with long-term supports:

•  Samaritans 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org
•  Text About It – text HELLO to 50808 (mental health issues)
• Aware 1800 80 48 48 (depression, anxiety)
•  Pieta House 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444 – (suicide, self-harm)
• Teen-Line Ireland 1800 833 634 (for ages 13 to 19)
• Childline 1800 66 66 66 (for under 18s)
• HUGG, Support After Suicide, 01 513 4048, email support@HUGG.ie  

- With reporting from Diarmuid Pepper and Press Association.