A man in his 40s has been arrested on suspicion of the murder of 84-year-old Sean Small in Co Down.
Small was found dead at the back of his house in Co Down at the weekend, following what police have said was a "brutal and sustained attack".
The man was arrested earlier today and remains in police custody.
Detectives leading the murder investigation said this afternoon that Small was last seen alive last Tuesday, five days before his body was found.
Forensic officers were back at the scene and a police cordon remained in place today outside his home in Slievenabrock Avenue in Newcastle.
Detective Chief Inspector Kerrie Foreman said she could not confirm details of the cause of death, the time of death or how many people may have been involved in the attack.
She appealed to anyone who was in the area last Tuesday, 19 August, or who witnessed anything suspicious that day or the following days to contact police.
"We can confirm that Mr Small was alive on the 19th of August. Our investigation at the moment is to establish what happened in those intervening days between then and when his body was found," she said.
The officer added: "We need the public's help. Has anyone you are close to acted strangely or broken from their usual routine in the last few days?"
Watch: Detective Chief Inspector Kerrie Foreman appeals for witnesses to come forward
DCI Foreman was asked if police believe the murder may be linked to the fact that Small was recently released from prison after serving three years for sex offences.
Two years ago Small was convicted at Newry Crown Court after confessing to 10 sexual offences against a teenage girl and a young woman committed between 2016 and 2018, when he was in his mid 70s.
The judge said the starting point for his sentence would have been 14 years but with discount for his guilty plea he was sentenced to three years in prison and three on licence under supervision.
He was released at the end of June.
Windows in his house were broken in an attack shortly after he returned home from prison.
"We maintain an open mind and there are a number of possible lines, a number of active lines of inquiry and potential motives for the attack," DCI Foreman said.
"A post-mortem examination is ongoing at the moment but what I can say is that this was a brutal attack and sustained and we would appeal for anyone in the area, who may have seen or noticed anything suspicious or heard anything, to please come forward and speak to police," she added.
