Detectives granted extra time to quiz suspects over the murder of Matt Shirley

DETECTIVES from the PSNI’s Major Investigation Team have been granted extra time to quiz three suspects over a pensioner’s murder.

A senior officer went to court this morning and requested a further period of detention to detain the suspects.

The unspecified period of detention was granted by a judge.

Matt ‘Matha’ Shirley from the Wakehurst Road area of Harryville died on Monday.

Initially, police said that the death of the 69-year-old in the Drumtara area of Ballymena yesterday afternoon was being treated as suspicious.

However, following a post mortem examination MIT detectives set up a major incident room after the death was confirmed as murder.

Two men, aged 41 and 49 and a 47 year old woman were arrested on Monday as part of the investigation.

They are being questioned at the PACE suite at Antrim police station.

Detective Chief Inspector Alan Dickson is continuing to appeal for information.

He is is keen to speak to anyone who was in the Drumtara area from Sunday evening until teatime yesterday and who has any information about an altercation involving a group of people to contact the MIT detectives on the non-emergency number 101.

Alternatively information can be passed anonymously via the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.