Death at Northern Ireland nursing home was murder

The death of a 56-year-old man at a nursing home in Randalstown last year is now being treated as murder, police have confirmed.

The death of the man at the Maine Nursing Home, Ahoghill Road, was reported to officers on September 12, 2011.

It was unexplained at the time, but is being treated as murder following a post-mortem and a final autopsy report by the State Pathologist.

The man, whose name has not yet been released, was a resident at the home for nine years.

Detectives are working with the Health and Social Care Trusts to investigate his death.

Antrim UUP councillor Adrian Watson said the local community had been stunned by the news that a murder investigation had been launched.

He said: “This is very worrying for people in the local community. People are shocked that something like this could have happened and hopefully now a thorough investigation will be carried out.”