Murder victim Brian Phelan

DETECTIVES from the PSNI’s Major Investigation Team have charged a man with murder following the death of a father-of-two in Co Down.

Brian Phelan, who was in his early 30s and from Bessbrook, died after a stabbing in the Carrivekeeney Road area, near Newry, on Thursday.

A 27-year-old man was arrested within hours of the murder and taken into custody for questioning.

Shortly before midnight last night,  police said MIT detectives had charged the suspect with Mr Phelan’s murder.

He is due before Newry Magistrates’ Court this morning for a first remand hearing.

Police recovered a car they believed was used in the alleged murder after appealing for the public’s help in tracking it down.