A man has been arrested over the deaths of three women in Northern Ireland over the past 11 years.

The 66-year-old was arrested in Dromore, Co. Down where the women all died in suspicious circumstances.

He was taken to a police station in Antrim where he is also being questioned on suspicion of other offences relating to other women.

Michelle Bickerstaff, 47, died in April last year; Margaret Weise, 50, in August 2007 and Elizabeth McKee, 52, in December of 2002.

A police spokesman said the families of all three women had been informed of the man's arrest.

An obituary for Ms. Bickerstaff, who had four children, said she died suddenly in hospital.

Police said a 64-year-old was arrested in connection with her death at the time. He was released unconditionally.