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Woman charged with murdering her partner in park

Cormac Campbell
BBC NI south-east reporter
BBC A close-up of two candles left at the scene of a man's murder in Fisher Park, Newry city. One of the candles is in a red and gold glass lantern and the other is in a clear glass and gold jar and is decorated with a cherub-like figure. A shrub-lined path in the park is partially visible behind the candles. BBC
Candles were placed at the scene of Igors Gavrilovs's murder in Fisher Park

A 50-year-old woman has appeared in court charged with the murder of her partner in Newry city centre.

Igors Gavrilovs, who was 40, died on Saturday, having sustained a serious injury in the Fisher Park area of the city.

Zivile Geringiene, who is homeless, is accused of killing him, with the offence aggravated by reason of domestic violence.

The defendant was put on remand with the case adjourned until 23 July.

A police car is parked at the side of the road. There are three officers behind it wearing full uniform. There is a Sports Direct red brick building in the background. The background also has a large amount of green trees in a park. Behind the car is a red and white "no entry" road sign.
Fisher Park was cordoned off by police following the death on Saturday

In the dock of Armagh Magistrates Court, sitting in Newry, Ms Geringiene confirmed her name, date of birth and that she understood the charge through a Lithuanian interpreter.

No details of the alleged offence were presented to the court and no bail application was made.

A friend of Ms Geringiene waved to her from the public gallery.

Concerns over tents in city park

Google Maps A wide view of Fisher Park, a small section of parkland which skirts around the edge of Buttercrane Shopping Centre. The park is fenced off with green iron railings. There is a small path lined with shrubs. A large blue sign for the shopping centre is in the background. Google Maps
Fisher Park is next to the Buttercrane Shopping Centre in Newry city centre

Fisher Park is a small parcel of green space that sits between the Buttercrane Shopping Centre, Newry Canal and Dublin Road.

It is named after the Fisher family who were synonymous with trade and shipping in the Newry area.

In recent years the local maritime association has added artwork and information panels highlighting these connections.

Their aim was to create what they called a small "green lung" in the centre of a busy city.

But for the last number of months the small parklet has seen a number of tents appear.

One local businessman told BBC News NI he believed there were three tents in Fisher Park and about six people living there.

Newry LN A screen grab of footage of Fisher Park, Newry, filmed in November 2024. Bags of rubbish and the remains of a damaged tent are discarded in piles on the ground. Newry LN
Local news site Newry LN published footage of a discarded tent and bags of rubbish accumulating in Fisher Park in November 2024

There have been complaints about the increasingly untidy nature of the park with rubbish and sanitation concerns raised.

Other local business people have spoken of their concern in recent weeks about how the issue should be addressed.

Following Mr Gavrilov's death, those tents have been removed and work is ongoing to tidy the park.

Candles and a small bouquet of flowers can be seen at the park's entrance.

PSNI Detective Inspector Sean Armstrong said that before being taken to hospital, Igors Gavrilovs had received medical treatment at the scene by emergency services, but later died from his injuries.