BY AILEEN MURPHY
The Irvinestown community has been left reeling following the fatal stabbing of a 19-year-old man in the town on Sunday night.
Garry Elliott died after he was stabbed in a house in Townhill Park in the town late on Sunday night.
A 25-year-old woman was arrested following the incident and is helping police with their enquires. Yesterday, police applied to a court for a further 24-hours to question the woman.
The area around the house in Townhill Park remained sealed off on Monday and Tuesday as forensic officers carried out an examination of the scene.
Meanwhile, shocked neighbours struggled to come to terms with the magnitude of what had happened in this close-knit community.
This is the second death to result from a stabbing in Irvinestown in just 18 months. In February last year, Steven Robinson (39) died after he was stabbed at his home in Cullaghmore.
A 20-year-old woman is awaiting trial for his murder.
Garry was well-known in the Irvinestown area. He lived with his mother Patricia in another house also in Townhill Park. His uncle, George Elliott explained how the entire family has been shattered by his nephew's death.
"We are all reeling from the shock, it's just so hard to take in. His mother is completely devastated, words can't say how she is. She's just lost her only son and is going through absolute hell."
Mr Elliott explained Garry, a past pupil of the former Duke of Westminster High School, was due to start a work placement scheme next week. He said Garry was a keen football fan and loved supporting his favourite team, Manchester United.
Mr Elliott also fondly recalled how one of his most recent memories of his nephew came from a family christening in May this year when Garry became godfather to Mr Elliott's son, and he added: "Garry was very proud to do that for us."
Details about what happened on Sunday night are quite sketchy, but it is believed Garry had been out socialising in Irvinestown with his girlfriend, Kerry Cassidy, before returning to the house in Townhill Park.
Police were called to the house around 11.30pm on Sunday night, where they then discovered Garry had been stabbed. He was pronounced dead at the scene, and a 25-year-old woman was arrested.
Police have issued an appeal for information from anyone who saw or heard a disturbance or any untoward activity in the Townhill Park area on Sunday night. The number to call with any information is 0845 600 8000 or Crimestoppers confidentially on 0800 555 111.
The murder has been condemned by Irvinestown SDLP councillor John O'Kane, who said: "It is an extremely sad situation that a young man has lost his life in circumstances like this. The whole community have been left deeply shocked."
Meanwhile, the Ulster Unionist MLA, Tom Elliott added: "This sad incident has led many people to question where society is heading. This was a young man who had much of his life ahead of him and appeared to have been out enjoying himself. It is nothing short of tragic how his life was to be stolen away in a moment."
Mr Elliott added: "This was a local man whose family will need time and support to come to terms with such a major shock. I am sure the thoughts and prayers of everyone across the county is with them at this time."
