24/08/2001

Police issue murder appeal to Bangor cinema audiences

Detectives investigating the murder of Bangor pensioner Russell McMahon are taking the unprecedented step of transmitting a special appeal for information in the town's cinema complex.

A one-minute appeal for information about the murder has been made by police and will be shown in the seven cinemas at the Bangor Multiplex this weekend.

Seventy-year old Mr McMahon died in hospital a few hours after he was attacked in Castle Park, close to the cinema, around 11.15pm on the night of Wednesday July 25.

He had been out for a drink in the town and was taking a short cut back to his home in Abbots Walk when he was attacked. A passing motorist raised the alarm when he saw Mr McMahon being assaulted.

A 17-year-old youth has been charged with the murder but police believe a number of other people were involved.

The officer leading the murder inquiry, Detective Chief Superintendent John Middlemiss, said the case had attracted considerable media and public interest but he hoped the cinema appeal would lead to more information from the public.

He added: "This is an unusual measure, as far as I'm aware, unprecedented in a murder investigation by the RUC. But we firmly believe there are people in the local community who have information about Mr McMahon's death and we think an appeal in the town's cinema complex could help us gather the information which we need to bring before the courts all those responsible for this vicious attack on a pensioner.

“Police are grateful to management at Bangor Multiplex for their assistance and we sincerely hope the exercise bears fruit."

Anyone with information is asked to contact detectives at Bangor on telephone 028 9145 4444 or the anonymous Crimestoppers system 0800 555 111. (GB)

Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.

14 November 2024
Police Appeal Following Burglary In Ahoghill
Detectives are appealing for information following a report of a burglary in Ahoghill on Tuesday, 12th November. Police received a report that the back door of a house on the Ballymena Road was forced open shortly before 6pm.
16 August 2004
Local cinema lovers in for Cinemobile treat
Northern Ireland cinema lovers are in for a treat next month when the National Lottery, in conjunction with the Northern Ireland Film and Television Commission (NIFTC), brings Ireland’s only touring cinema to Belfast for the first time. Belfast will start the celebrations when it launches a week of free cinema screenings throughout the province.
24 June 2024
Attempted Murder Investigation Launches In Ballygowan
An attempted murder investigation has been launched after shotgun pellets were fired into a house in Ballygowan on Saturday evening, 22 June. Police received a report that at around 11pm, a number of shotgun pellets were fired through the window of a house in the Brae Grove area, striking a woman in the head and her back.
21 November 2022
Bomb Attack On Police Being Treated As Attempted Murder
The PSNI has launched an attempted murder investigation following an attack on two officers in the Mount Carmel Heights area of Strabane. The targeted attack took place shortly before 11pm on Thursday 17 November, when an improvised explosive device caused damage to a police vehicle.
14 September 2022
28-Year-Old Arrested In Connection With Violent Ballymena Attack
The PSNI have issued an appeal for information following a stabbing incident in Ballymena. A man is being treated in hospital for serious injuries to his head, neck and stomach after he was reportedly attacked at his home in the Grove Road area. The incident is said to have taken place shortly after 4am this morning.