An 84-year-old man who had been released from prison just weeks ago was found dead outside his home after a ‘brutal and sustained attack’.

Sean Small was pronounced dead outside of his house in Newcastle in County Down, Northern Ireland, on Sunday night.

A man in his 40s has since been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Police confirmed there had been an incident of criminal damage at his home several weeks ago.

Small was last seen alive on August 19, and was recently released from prison after serving a sentence for sexual offences.

In 2022 he pleaded guilty to 10 sexual offenses against a ‘vulnerable’ woman and a teenage girl.

He was sentenced to three years in prison and a three-year supervision order following his release.

Detective Chief Inspector Kerrie Foreman said: ‘This was a

See Full Page