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Sunday, 13 December 2009

Third arrest over nightclub murder

Trevor Spiers died in Portstewart following a fight

Detectives investigating the murder of a 28-year-old man outside a nightclub in Portstewart have made a third arrest.

A 19-year-old man was detained in the Coleraine area on Monday morning, in connection with the murder of Trevor Spiers, who was from the Portstewart area.

Two men, aged 20 and 31, also remain in police custody.

The victim is understood to have been assaulted on the Promenade at 2am on Sunday and died in hospital a short time later.

He had been in the Havana club, above the Shenanigans bar in the seaside town, which is a popular night-spot close to the University of Ulster campus at Coleraine.

'Tragic'

SDLP East Derry MLA John Dallat said he was in Portstewart a couple of hours before the death.

"No one could have predicted that someone would lose their life later in the evening," he said.

Mr Dallat said taxis were going about taking young people to various places of entertainment.

The SDLP representative described the town as "very peaceful".

"It is hard to take that a young man would later be dead and a family plunged into mourning.

"I have spoken to the police this morning and they are doing everything possible to establish what led up to this unfortunate incident and I would ask anyone who knows anything about the circumstances to get in touch with the PSNI immediately."

He added: "My immediate thoughts are with the family of the deceased. This is so tragic, particularly in the run-up to Christmas, which is traditionally a period of joy and happiness."

Sinn Fein representative for the area Billy Leonard blamed a culture of aggression for such violence.

"Obviously my first thoughts are with the family circle of the young man who has lost his life, they are bound to be totally devastated," he said.

"Their son goes out to enjoy himself and he doesn't return home. It is totally sickening to think of."

Mr Leonard said there had been too many incidents of fights and attacks in and around nightclubs.

"The culture of aggression is ever-present and unfortunately it has now gone to the sickening level of this person's death", he said.

"This culture must be challenged by all who have responsibility for any aspect of this context."

Police now want to speak to bystanders who came to the injured man's aid after the assault.

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11 Comments

At 18:33 on 17 December 2009, Anon wrote:

A tragic and needless loss of life, my prayers go out to the family at this difficult time. The council/police/publicans needs to come together and install survailance cameras throughout the promenade to prevent such a needless tragedy from happening again. The police need to have a presence as the town is and always has been lawless at the weekend. The publicans need to clean up their act or close. Disgusted and sad.

At 16:54 on 15 December 2009, derek wrote:

That area has been a fighting ring for the last few years Bar owners are letting people drink to excess.drugs have how become a problem.And the local council and police should take action and remove bars entertainment licences

At 16:14 on 14 December 2009, elaine wrote:

I live in Portstewart and have seen a decline in the 3 years i have lived here there are a lot of trouble at the weekend and i was so shocked to hear of this murder portstewart is a small seaside town and you don't expect this to happen.I did not know the man myself but know his surrounding family my heart goes out to them at this sad time and may he rest in peace.

At 15:39 on 14 December 2009, louise wrote:

In response to Niall's coment the only people here to blame are those involved in the death of Trevor. For the record it is not up to the bouncers to monitor everyones behaviour once they leave licenced premises. It is up to us as responsible adults to monitor ourselves. We are not animals!! People choose to go to these clubs, at their own freewill! You are not dragged in off the street!! So the only people to blame here are the animals that caused this upset to the Spiers family. My thoughts are with them at this horrendous time. God Bless.

At 12:38 on 14 December 2009, North Antrim Resident wrote:

This makes my stomach churn. Yet again someones life has being taken by a cowardly mob. Being a regular in portstewart I am supprised that this can happen as there is usually a large PSNI presence. The bouncers dont work the streets so they cant be blaimed. I didnt know Trevor but like any other normal human being my thoughts and prayers are with his family

At 10:50 on 14 December 2009, Niall wrote:

I am from Portstewart & was friendly with Trevor. It was only a matter of time before someone got killed as for the last 4 years Portstewart has been getting very rough and full of total scumbags. The local clubs are a lot to blame as they have more or less invited these scum down. They let them in the clubs, take their money off them and then send them on their way to carry out acts of violence such as this. And the Police are not much use either - Where were they???? And where were the bouncers???? Questions need Answered.

At 01:17 on 14 December 2009, David wrote:

there is alot of young people going out for a night out in portstewart and behave themselves but there is that handful that just want to start both or how cannot hold there drink. I think all there very cheap drink being given out to all these young people and i think the bars should not be giving out to people that are drunk. My thoughts are with the family at this sad time christmas for them will never be the same for them. The whole community will be think of them and other people lost at christmas time....