Ulster woman, 22, stabbed to death

Police confirmed today that a 22-year-old woman found murdered in west Belfast yesterday had been stabbed to death.

Police confirmed today that a 22-year-old woman found murdered in west Belfast yesterday had been stabbed to death.

A man is in custody and being questioned after the body was found at around 4pm in a house at Shankill Terrace.

Detectives appealed for anyone who saw anything suspicious in the area from early yesterday morning until the discovery of the victim to contact them.

This latest incident brought to five the number of people killed in Northern Ireland in the past four days.

A few hours earlier, a man was found stabbed to death at another address in the Shankill.

Edward Robinson, 35, was killed in an attack at his house in Mayo Park.

Police are questioning a man and woman in connection with his murder, which the RUC do not believe was the result of a paramilitary or sectarian attack.

Ulster Unionist Party councillor Chris McGimpsey described the latest murder as "another tragedy afflicting our community".

The house where the woman's body was found is in the heart of the Lower Shankill area, which bore the brunt of the bitter loyalist dispute between the Ulster Defence Association and the Ulster Volunteer Force earlier this year.

"There are 16 houses in Shankill Terrace and the UDA put seven of those 16 out during the feud," Mr McGimpsey said.

"This location and the upset particularly caused by the feud is still feeding increases in violence.

"It is deeply saddening that a young girl of 22 has been murdered. Our thoughts must go out to her family."

Police have not commented on a possible motive for the murder.

Yesterday a 32-year-old man appeared at Belfast Magistrates Court charged with murdering 38-year-old William Morrison in the Woodstock Road area of east Belfast on Christmas Eve.

Earlier in the week, a 21-year-old woman was charged in connection with the death of 37-year-old Eric Connor, who was stabbed to death in Limavady, Co Londonderry on Christmas Eve.

And a 17-year-old youth was charged with the murder of 23-year-old Martin Mongan in Londonderry on Christmas morning.