Murder victim’s funeral held in town

Andrew’s funeral service was to take place on Wednesday at 2pm at St John’s Parish Church in Sloan Street. It was to be preceded by a short private service at the family home.

In other developments three men appeared in Lisburn Magistrate’s Court on Saturday charged with the murder of Andrew Lorimer.

Andrew was found dead in his flat in Portlec Place on Sunday, February 5.

The three men charged with the 43-year-old’s murder were Christopher Wright, James Jordan and Richard Chester.

20-year-old Wright’s address was given to the court as Mount Zion House while Jordan (18) is a student from Princes Street in the town. Chester (21) was listed as having no fixed abode.

Detective Sergeant Brown told the court he was aware of all the facts and circumstances and believed he could connect each of the defendants to the charge.

No bail applications were lodged and all three men were remanded in custody until February 24 to appear at Craigavon Magistrate’s Court via videolink.

District Judge Amanda Henderson commented that they faced “an extremely serious charge”.

Following the short hearing she praised everyone who attended for the “dignified way they dealt with the proceedings”.

Two days previously a 21-year-old man appeared in Lisburn Magistrate’s Court, charged with burglary, by police investigating the Lurgan murder.

Ryan David Stephen McVeigh of Valetta Park, Newtownards was charged with burglary on February 5 at Portlec Place. He was remanded in custody to appear on March 8 in Lisburn Magistrate’s Court.

Meanwhile on Friday night, detectives returned to the scene of the murder at Portlec Place in an effort to identify potential witnesses and gather more information about what happened.