Man charged in relation to tragic west Belfast death
Detectives investigating the death of Marie Conlon in west Belfast have charged a 23 year old man.
Last updated 13th Oct 2017
He is accused of several offences related to theft, fraud, burglary and preventing the lawful burial of a body.
He is also been released unconditionally in relation to suspicion of murder while further forensic examinations are carried out to establish how the pensioner died.
The 23 year old will appear in court on the 6th November.
68 year old Marie's body was found in her Lark Spur Rise flat a week ago - but may have lain there for nearly three years.
After concerns were raised for her safety police had forced entry to her Larkspur Rise home and discovered her dead in bed.
Detective chief inspector Alan Dickson said: It was apparent that she had lain undiscovered for some time.''
A post-mortem examination was carried out and the results suggest that the death may have been suspicious.
Ms Conlon was last seen in January 2015 and police believe her death occurred then.
In a statement, the victim's family said: We are shocked and heartbroken to learn about the loss of our beloved sister, Marie Conlon.
The tragic circumstances of her death make it all the more difficult to comprehend and accept.
Marie was very much loved by her family and will be mourned greatly. She was a very independent person.
Numerous attempts had been made to contact her in person, and by other means, over the course of the past two years but at no point were suspicions raised that she had been deceased. It is only with hindsight that the unimaginable now seems possible.
We have been working closely with the PSNI to bring this devastating situation to an end. We hope and pray that justice will be done and ask for privacy as we grieve the loss of our sister.'