Fresh Arrest On Newtownabbey Nightclub Murder

Four years - almost to the day - after a nightclub promoter was viciously attacked by a gang of men, one person has been arrested over what later became a murder case.

Stephen Nelson, 55, died six months after he was attacked at the Chimney Corner Hotel on the Antrim Road in Newtownabbey having been assaulted in September 2004 by a group of around 10 men outside the nightclub he ran.

He never recovered consciousness such were the extent of the injuries inflicted.

Shortly afterwards, eight men were taken for questioning but later released without charge and - later, in May 2005 - the Independent Monitoring Commission reported that the men who carried out the assault were members of the outlawed loyalist paramilitary group, the UDA.

Now, despite a wall of silence about the killing of Mr Nelson - who was a well known radio producer who worked for Downtown Radio, based in Newtownards and ran the club in a freelance capacity - another arrest has been made.

The senior investigating officer, Detective Chief Inspector Justyn Galloway said the murder was a brutal attack.

"This Thursday will be the anniversary of this savage attack. My investigation team believes that up to 10 men kicked and punched Mr Nelson.

"Police so far have spoken to a considerable number of people who attended a disco on the night.

"But it is possible that someone knows who did this, and because of fear of reprisals, they are afraid to talk to us," he said.

At the time, commentators said the assault might have taken place in reprisal for Mr Nelson refusing to allow UDA-backed drug dealing on the premises.

(BMcC)