The usually quiet Mulberry Park area of Dunmurry, west Belfast, was shaken to its core on Thursday evening, August 21, 2025, as news broke of a fatal stabbing that left a community in shock and a family torn apart. Shane Lowry, a man in his 30s, was found dead at a property in the heart of the estate, the victim of a stabbing that would soon send ripples far beyond the immediate neighborhood.
According to the Belfast News Letter, police were called to the scene in Mulberry Park following reports of a violent incident. When officers arrived, they discovered Shane Lowry with fatal injuries. Despite efforts by emergency responders, he was pronounced dead at the scene. The tragedy unfolded just hours after a fire broke out at a block of flats within the same estate, compounding an already tense atmosphere in the area.
By Saturday morning, August 23, the story took an even more distressing turn. Martin Lowry, 32, of no fixed abode and Shane’s younger brother, appeared before Lisburn Magistrates’ Court charged with murder and possession of a knife. The hearing was brief and somber. Martin Lowry, dressed plainly and appearing subdued, spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth. There was no application for bail, and Judge Eamonn King ordered that he be remanded in custody until his next court appearance, scheduled for September 15, 2025.
The police investigation into the killing was swift and thorough. A large cordon was thrown up around Mulberry Park and several adjacent streets on Friday, August 22, as forensic teams combed the area for evidence. Residents peered from behind curtains, grappling with the reality that their normally peaceful community had become the site of a deeply personal tragedy.
In court, a Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) constable stated that she could connect the accused to the charges, providing the legal basis for Martin Lowry’s continued detention. The confirmation that the victim and the accused were brothers only deepened the sense of disbelief among neighbors and friends. According to Belfast Telegraph reporting, the relationship between the two men had been close but complicated, with Martin Lowry’s life marked by associations that would soon come under renewed scrutiny.
One detail that emerged in the aftermath of the arrest caught the attention of both the press and the public: Martin Lowry was known to be a close friend of John George, a figure whose name is familiar to those following the darker currents of Northern Ireland’s underworld. John George himself was a victim of gangland violence in Spain, and his murder had previously made headlines. The connection between Martin Lowry and John George, reported by Belfast Telegraph, added a layer of intrigue—and, for some, unease—to an already tragic story.
As the investigation continued, local leaders stepped forward to address the community’s grief and confusion. Sinn Fein MLA Danny Baker spoke candidly about the impact of Shane Lowry’s death. "There is shock and sadness in the local community after the death," he said, reflecting a mood of collective mourning. Baker also noted the strange timing of the incident, which happened shortly after a fire at a nearby block of flats. While police have not suggested a direct link between the two events, the coincidence has fueled speculation and concern among residents.
The facts of the case, as established by police and reported by Belfast News Letter, are stark. On the evening of August 21, Shane Lowry was stabbed at a property in Mulberry Park. Police responded quickly, but it was too late to save him. His brother, Martin Lowry, was arrested and charged with murder and possession of a knife. The court proceedings confirmed the familial connection and set in motion a legal process that will likely keep the accused in custody for the foreseeable future.
For those living in Mulberry Park and the wider Dunmurry area, the events of that Thursday evening have left a lasting scar. The police cordon that lingered into Friday was a visible reminder of the violence that had shattered the community’s sense of safety. For many, the knowledge that the tragedy was a family matter—brother against brother—made it all the more difficult to process.
The story also raises uncomfortable questions about the intersection of personal relationships and criminal associations in Northern Ireland. While there is no evidence to suggest that Shane Lowry’s death was connected to the gangland violence that claimed the life of John George, Martin Lowry’s friendship with the slain crime figure has inevitably drawn attention. As reported by Belfast Telegraph, the connection has prompted speculation about possible motives and influences, though police have emphasized that the investigation remains focused on the facts at hand.
At the heart of the story, however, is a family devastated by loss. Friends and neighbors describe Shane Lowry as a quiet man, someone who generally kept to himself but was always willing to lend a hand when needed. His sudden and violent death has left those who knew him searching for answers—and struggling to understand how such a tragedy could unfold in their midst.
Martin Lowry’s future now lies in the hands of the courts. His next appearance before Lisburn Magistrates’ Court is set for September 15, 2025, when more details about the case may come to light. For now, he remains in custody, his fate uncertain and the shadow of his brother’s death hanging over him.
As the legal process unfolds, the people of Mulberry Park and Dunmurry are left to pick up the pieces. The police presence has begun to recede, but the memories of that fateful Thursday evening will linger for a long time to come. Community leaders continue to urge calm and compassion, reminding residents that, in the end, a family has been irreparably changed and a life lost far too soon.
In the weeks ahead, as the court case progresses and new details emerge, the hope is that answers—and perhaps some measure of closure—will follow. For now, the tragedy of Shane Lowry’s death stands as a somber reminder of the fragility of life and the unpredictable consequences of violence, even among those closest to us.
