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<\/p>\nThe development was revealed hours after a \u00a320,000 reward was offered for information on the killing of 84-year-old Sean Small in Newcastle.<\/p>\n
Detectives said Small died after \u201ca brutal and sustained attack\u201d.<\/p>\n
And tonight, in a major development, police revealed an arrest had been made.<\/p>\n
The PSNI said: \u201cA man in his 40s has been arrested on suspicion of murder and remains in police custody at this time.\u201d<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Detectives said Sean Small died after \u201ca brutal and sustained attack\u201d.<\/p>\n
News Catch Up – Tuesday 26th August <\/p>\n
Small\u2019s body was discovered outside his home in Newcastle after he had not been seen for several days.<\/p>\n
Detective Chief Inspector Kerrie Foreman from the PSNI\u2019s Major Investigation Team said officers are working \u201cat pace\u201d to establish the full circumstances and have appealed for public assistance.<\/p>\n
It is believed Small was last seen alive on August 19, five days before his body was found outside his property on Slievenabrock Avenue on Sunday evening.<\/p>\n
![\"Press](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/9b100875-57af-4703-8b25-23159ba0589c.jpg\")
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Press Eye – Belfast – Northern Ireland – 26th August 2025<\/p>\n
The scene at Slievenabrock Avenue where police are continuing their murder investigation after a man was found dead on Sunday night. <\/p>\n
PSNI Detective Chief Inspector Kerrie Foreman speaks the the media at Newcastle Police Station regarding the miurder. <\/p>\n
Picture by Jonathan Porter\/PressEye<\/p>\n
Police also confirmed that there had been a previous incident of criminal damage at his home in recent weeks, though details of that incident remain unclear.<\/p>\n
DCI Foreman said: \u201cFirst and foremost, our thoughts are with the family of the victim.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe received a report at around 10.30pm, on Sunday August 24, that a man in his 80s had been found outside a property in the Slievenabrock Avenue area of Newcastle.<\/p>\n
\u201cSadly, the man was pronounced dead and has been named as 84-year-old Sean Small from the town.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis was a brutal and sustained attack and while our investigation is at a very early stage, Detectives are working at pace to determine the circumstances around this murder. In order to do this, we need the public\u2019s help.”<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Detectives said Sean Small died after \u201ca brutal and sustained attack\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u00a320,000 reward offered for information on the murder of Newcastle man Sean Small\n<\/p>\n
Small was jailed in 2022 for a series of child sex offences committed over a period of nearly two years.<\/p>\n
Following a hearing at Newry Crown Court, Small pleaded guilty to a total of 10 charges, including four counts of sexual assault, three counts of sexual assault by penetration, two counts of sexual activity with a child under 16, and one count of inciting a child under 16 to engage in sexual activity.<\/p>\n
The offences were carried out against two female victims between September 30, 2016, and April 2, 2018.<\/p>\n
He served three years of his sentence in prison, with the remainder to be served on licence.<\/p>\n
During sentencing, Judge Gordon Kerr KC said Small had demonstrated \u201climited insight\u201d into the impact of his actions and had shown \u201can element of victim blaming.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s perfectly clear that the behaviour has had serious consequences for the victims,\u201d added Judge Kerr.<\/p>\n
Following the 2022 hearing, police described Small\u2019s crimes as \u201csickening\u201d.<\/p>\n
Speaking on Tuesday afternoon, DCI Foreman urged anyone with information to come forward.<\/p>\n
The charity, Crimestoppers is offering a reward of up to \u00a320,000 for information given directly to them that leads to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for the murder of Sean Small.<\/p>\n
Photos and footage – including CCTV, mobile phone or dashcam footage – can be shared with police through the Major Incident Public Portal at https:\/\/mipp.police.uk\/operation\/PSNI25U19-PO1<\/a><\/p>\n