A 14-year-old schoolboy was charged yesterday with murdering Mr Ian Flanagan (30), a civil servant who was found stabbed and battered to death in the Upper Malone area of Belfast last weekend.
The accused boy, who cannot be named because he is under 17, comes from South Belfast. He was allowed to remain outside the dock at the Magistrates Court and during the brief hearing he stood with his head bowed.
Mr Flanagan's body was found on Sunday morning adjacent to a hockey pitch at Malone Playing Fields. A native of Keady, South Armagh, he had been living at Donegall Avenue, Belfast. It is understood he was stabbed and beaten around the head with a blunt instrument.
Det Insp Jeff Smyth said he charged the boy last night and he replied: "I regret it." The inspector agreed with defence barrister Mr Sean Patterson that the boy had co-operated with police during seven interviews.
Mr Patterson said his client wished to express his remorse.
The boy was remanded in custody until October 8th.