Two people have been arrested in connection with the murder of 81-year-old Maire Rankin in Newry, Co Down.
A 39-year-old man and a 42-year-old woman have been detained in Newry and are being questioned about the killing.
Maire Rankin is believed to have died some time late on Christmas Eve at her home in Newry.
Her body was found by relatives on Christmas Day after she failed to answer telephone calls.
The PSNI says it has launched the murder inquiry following the results of a post mortem examination.
For the past two days, a forensic examination has been carried out, with particular attention paid to an area at the back of the terraced house on the Dublin Road.
Detectives have ruled out a suggestion that Ms Rankin was killed in a burglary that went wrong.
The PSNI has appealed for information and wants to hear from anyone who may have noticed suspicious activity near the house from 10pm on Christmas Eve.
