Pensioner held over deaths of three lovers in a decade

Adapted from DailyMail

A stonemason was being questioned last night in connection with the suspicious deaths over ten years of three of his former girlfriends.

Leslie Ross, 66, had previously been arrested and released unconditionally in connection with the death of his 47-year-old partner Michelle  Bickerstaff in April last year.

The mother of four is understood to have suffered head injuries and died suddenly in hospital.

Now the dry stone waller has been arrested again following a review of Mrs Bickerstaff’s case and separate investigations into the deaths of two other partners.

Margaret Weise, 50, died in August 2007 and Elizabeth McKee, 52, known as Lily, died in December 2002.

Police in Northern Ireland last night said the families of the women had been informed and the investigation had not involved any exhumations.

It is understood two of the women died after suffering physical injuries, with officers still trying to work out how they were caused. The other death has been attributed to organ failure.

Mr Ross was arrested in the market town of Dromore, in Co. Down, where he is well known among locals.

It is understood Mr Ross was also being quizzed at Antrim police station about offences relating to other women.

Ryan Dickson, grandson of Lily McKee, last night said there were suspicious circumstances when she died, but no one was arrested.

He said his grandmother had been in an ‘on-off relationship’ with Mr Ross for around 11 years before she died.

Mr Dickson confirmed that police had spoken to the family several times in recent months. Mrs McKee’s only daughter, Jenny Dickson, also said her mother, who was divorced, was in a relationship with Mr Ross.

She said her mother had maintained her own flat in the town but had lived with Mr Ross from time to time.

Mrs Dickson said: ‘I know that the police have been working hard with these cases and I am not prepared to give any details as I would not want to jeopardise their inquiry and we want to see justice.’  She said her mother was ‘a great person’ who did charity work.

Locals last night said Mr Ross  frequented a number of bars in Dromore, including the Market Bar where one customer said he was a well-known face. He added: ‘I also knew all three of the women. They had their problems in life.’

It is understood Mr Ross’s family owned a bar in Castlewellan 15 miles away, which was blown up during the Troubles.

Mr Ross lives alone in a white-painted terraced house in Dromore where yesterday there were signs of graffiti having being painted over.

Neighbour Barbara Boyd, 54, said: ‘He is quiet and keeps himself to himself.’

Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldson, who knew Miss McKee and Miss Bickerstaff, said the community was in shock.

Dromore councillor Carol Black said: ‘I have been speaking to a lot of locals and they are devastated.’