Man charged with murder of pregnant mother of two

Police investigating the killing of Sarah Montgomery in Donaghadee at the weekend have charged a man with murder and child destruction.

The 28-year-old man is due to appear at Newtownards Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

Ms Montgomery, 27, from Donaghadee, had two young girls and was heavily pregnant with her third child when she was pronounced dead at her Elmfield Walk home on Saturday afternoon.

A 42-year-old woman, who was arrested in Belfast on Monday on suspicion of assisting an offender, has been released.

The death has shocked residents in Donaghadee, a coastal town about 20 miles (32km) from Belfast.

Tributes have been paid to Ms Montgomery over the past few days and the local community has set up a fundraiser for funeral costs.

Louise Fitzsimons owns the Green Room flower shop in Donaghadee and says she left flowers outside her shop on Monday for the community and to pay tribute to "a beautiful life".

She said "complete grief has rippled through the town and people are still in disbelief"

Ryan Mawhinney is a gym manager at HQ fit in Donaghadee where Sarah attended.

He remembers her as "a lovely, bubbly person who always had a smile on her face".

He said that, while the whole town is still in shock, they will be doing something to remember Sarah.

Donaghadee Primary School described their former pupil as "the most supportive and loving mum to her two wonderful daughters".

The school said she was "a much loved past pupil" and offered its "heartfelt thoughts, prayers and sincere condolences to Sarah's family at this very sad time".

Donaghadee Community Association said Donaghadee "is a very close and deeply caring community, and we know everyone will be feeling very shocked".

"We encourage everyone to support one another in the days ahead."

Donaghadee Parish Church said its clergy and congregation were "deeply saddened" by the death of Ms Montgomery.

It said the parish had a "strong connection to her family and one of her children was baptised in our congregation".

"She was a familiar and friendly part of our local community, a young mum who would stand with other mums at the gate of Donaghadee Primary School at pick up time, a school which she herself had attended," the statement added.

"The tragic nature of Sarah's death, compounded with the loss of her unborn child, can only add to the immense sense of grief that her family and friends will be feeling."

A vigil with Women's Aid is to be held on Wednesday at 18:30 BST from the resource centre to Ms Montgomery's home.

"Sarah is not just a statistic, Sarah was a mummy, a sister, a granddaughter and a friend, she deserves to be remembered in a dignified manner," said the organisation.

Emalyn Turkington, from North Down and Ards Women's Aid said there was "shock and devastation," from the group.

Catherine Morrison, in Donaghadee

Donaghadee is a town in grief and shock.

There has been an outpouring of love and support for her family since her death and people are coming together to comfort each other.

Two books of condolence have been open at a shop and cafe in the town.

A growing pile of flowers have been left outside Sarah's home, including blue soft toys for the son she was carrying when she was killed.

Police were first alerted to an unconscious and seriously injured woman inside the Elmfield Walk house on Saturday afternoon.

Ms Montgomery was then treated by emergency services but pronounced dead at the scene.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) described the case as "deeply tragic".

On Monday, detectives issued a new appeal for information about a specific vehicle in east Belfast as part of their investigation.