A mother-of-one accused of murder was refused bail today (fri) amid fears that she would reoffend.
Remanding 23-year-old Shauneen Boyle back into custody, District Judge Mervyn Bayes said he was also concerned about her interfering with the ongoing police investigation.
Boyle and 27-year-old Stephen Hughes are jointly charged with the murder of Owen Creaney in Craigavon on a date unknown between 4 - 5 July last year.
The charge arises after the badly beaten body of 40-year-old Mr Creaney was found hidden in a wheelie bin at the back of Hughes' house at Moyraverty Court after a report of suspicious activity on the Saturday, although police believe that he may have been in the bin for a number of days.
Speaking at the time of the gruesome discovery, Detective Chief Inspector Richard Campbell said Mr Creaney, who celebrated his 40th birthday last week, was a "frail and vulnerable" member of our society who was disabled and used a walking aid. He said it appeared that he "was the victim of a serious and sustained assault" and had initially survived the beating but later died while in the bin.
Boyle and Hughes were arrested before officers uncovered the victims body in a green bin at the house and the court has heard that during interviews, each blamed the other for the death, not withstanding the fact that Boyle had allegedly confessed to a witness that she had assaulted Mr Creaney.
With Boyle appearing via video link today (fri), a detective sergeant have evidence that if released, there was a risk of further offending as she had quite a substantial record in relation to violence and claimed she was possible flight risk as at one stage she was planning to go and live with her father in Liverpool.
Boyle's solicitor Peter Corrigan said police found body of victim because she told the where it was, adding that she did not stonewall them but gave a detailed account of everything that happened.
A social worker who is in contact with the defendant on a regular basis gave evidence saying social services would have no objection to her being released on bail and that Boyle was "100 per cent" committed to her son.
Judge Bates said he did not consider there was any flight risk but add that she faces a serious charge and he was concerned about the risk of re-offending and interference with witnesses.
Boyle was remanded for a further video link appearance on May 8.
A man has beaten with baseball bats by a gang in North Belfast.
Seven men forced their way into the victim's home on Forthriver Drive at around 10.00pm on Thursday night.
The so-called 'punishment beating' left the victim with several broken bones.
His injuries are not thought to be life-threatening.
A 33-year-old man was arrested in the early hours of Friday morning on the Crumlin Road in connection with the attack.
Detective Constable Gareth Hussey said: “The victim sustained a number of suspected fractures however his injuries are not believed to be life threatening.
“A suspect was subsequently arrested in the Crumlin Road area at around 2am.
“He remains in custody at this time assisting us with our enquiries.”
The PSNI have asked anyone with information to contact them on 101.
UDA "foot soldiers" to stand trial for attempted murder
A 100-strong UDA mob ransacked the house last March in Larne
Two Greenisland men once described as "foot soldiers" in the UDA were today (thurs) ordered to stand trial accused of attempted murder and intimidation.
Standing in the dock of Ballymena Magistrates Court, 29-year-old Steven Adam Blackwood and Stephen Craig Mettleton (34) were charged with trying to kill a man after a gang of up to 100 loyalists smashed their way into his home at Knockdhu Park in Larne on 30 March last year.
As well as attempted murder and aggravated burglary Blackwood, from Moyard Gardens and Mettleton, from Rossmore Green in the town, are also charged with causing criminal damage to the house and intimidating both the male and a female to leave the property.
Alongside them in the dock today (thurs) was Ballyclare woman 37-year- old Elizabeth Sharon Anderson from Grange Park in the east Antrim town who faces a charge of attempting to pervert the course of justice by allegedly providing Mettleton was a false alibi.
The charges arise after serious public disorder involving a 100 strong gang armed with knives, machetes, golf clubs and hammers smashed their way into a man’s home, wrecked various items inside and issued threats for the family to get out of Larne.
During earlier court hearings, Mettleton and Blackwood have been described as "foot soldiers in the south east Antrim UDA" who can allegedly be linked to the incident after the men's DNA was found on a balaclava and gloves found in a bin near a house in Knockdhu Park.
Although no facts of the case were opened today (thurs), a prosecuting lawyer submitted there was a Prima Facie case for the trio to answer, based on the legal papers before the court and as their solicitors had no contrary submissions, District Judge Des Perry said he was satisfied there was enough evidence to commit them to the Crown Court for trial.
All three accused were given the opportunity to comment on the charges, give evidence to the Preliminary Enquiry or call witnesses on their behalves but each declined to do so.
Releasing the defendants on continuing bail, Judge Perry extended legal aid to allow senior barristers to be instructed and ordered the three to appear at Belfast Crown Court for arraignment on a date to be fixed.
Shots have been fired as police came under attack in Derry on Wednesday night.
Trouble began just before 10pm in the Leafair Gardens are of the city.
Police said that the 30-strong mob was mostly made up of youths.
The PSNI had to deploy CS gas to bring the crowd under control after two police Land Rovers were "substantially damaged" after coming under attack from masonry and other makeshift missiles thrown by the mob.
Later in the evening the PSNI said they were reports of shots being fired in the same area.
The police have asked for anyone with information to contact them on their non-emergency number, 101.
Two men aged 23 and 30 arrested as part of major international drug smuggling probe
Two men aged 23 and 30 have been arrested as part of a major investigation into international drugs smuggling.
The pair were detained during a search of a house in the Donegall Pass area of south Belfast and have been taken to a police station in the city for questioning.
In the past nine days, 12 people have been arrested and £1 million worth of cannabis has been seized following 22 police raids across Northern Ireland.
Further arrests and seizures have also been made in England and Italy.
Detective Inspector Andy Dunlop, from the Police Service Organised Crime Branch, said: "Five people have been remanded in custody, two were released on bail pending a report to the PPS and three others are due to appear in court tomorrow.
"We have seized £1 million worth of cannabis in Northern Ireland and have worked closely with colleagues in the National Crime Agency and Italian Carabinieri as additional searches were conducted and arrests were made.
