Police in Izmir, Turkey are remaining tight lipped in their investigation into the deaths of two women from Newry.

Local media in Turkey are quoting security sources saying that the 17-year-old suspect arrested has allegedly confessed to the killing of the two women.

The bodies of Kathy Dinsmore and Marion Graham, both from the Newry area and aged in their 50s, were found in a forest near the city of Izmir last night.

It is understood that concern was first raised when one of the women's 15-year-old daughter returned from a boat trip and could not find her mother. She then alerted police.

The bodies of the two women were later found with stab wounds in a wooded area more than 100km from the resort of Kusadasi, where one of the victims is believed to have owned a house.

A 17-year-old Turkish youth, understood to be the boyfriend of a daughter of one of the women, was arrested by police in connection with the deaths.

Police also detained the boy's father and a taxi driver for questioning.



The teen was involved in a relationship with Marion Graham's daughter and Turkey's national newspapers claim he carried out the lethal knife attack after he was informed that the 15-year- old girl from Northern Ireland was not going to be allowed to marry him.

The girl's father Raymond McGuinnes says he plans to travel to Turkey later on Saturday to comfort his daughter and bring home her mother's body and that of her friend.

Irish diplomats are assisting both families, one source says, the 15-year-old despite the tragedy and terrible trauma was doing fine.



South Down MP Margaret Ritchie said she was shocked by the deaths and offered her sympathy to the bereaved families.

'I think all the people of South Down will be saddened by this news.'

