The man arrested in Derry last Wednesday following a cross-Border manhunt involving the PSNI and Garda appeared in court on Saturday charged with murder.
Kieran Edward McLaughlin (58), from Elaghmore Park in the Galliagh area of the city, was brought to the special sitting of the local magistrates’ court in Bishop Street, Derry, from Antrim police station where he’s been in custody since his arrest.
He is charged with the murder of Barry McCrory (35), who was shot dead in bed at his girlfriend’s flat on Shipquay Street in Derry on October 10th. The defendant was also charged with possessing a shotgun and shotgun cartridges with intent to endanger life, on October 16th, the day he was arrested.
On the charge sheet the defendant’s reply to the murder charge was recorded as: “Not guilty, this is a media smear campaign.”
In reply to the shotgun charge, his reply was recorded as: “Not guilty.”
There was no bail application and the defendant was remanded in custody until November 14th for a video link hearing.