A house in which the dismembered body of a murdered girl was found may never find a buyer, a court heard yesterday. The remains of schoolgirl Sylvia Fleming (17) were discovered in the foundations at Glenside, Circular Road, Omagh, Co Tyrone, in April 1998.
The prospective purchaser then pulled out of the deal, the court heard, and yesterday the developer sued him for breach of contract in the High Court in Belfast.
Two men and two juveniles have still to stand trial on charges of murder and helping to dispose of the body.
Yesterday's action was brought by Mr Patrick Haughey, trading as HBC Homes, of Mountfield Road, Omagh, against Mr Mark Nixon, of Donaghanie Road, Omagh. Mr James McNulty QC, for Mr Haughey, said the discovery of Miss Fleming's dismembered body in the foundations of the £75,000 house "appear to have been the trigger for the defendant's refusal to proceed".
He said Mr Nixon agreed to take another site on the development, but later refused to accept that.
Mr Justice Girvan commented: "That is a problem that arises from the unhappy history of the house rather than breach of contract." The case was adjourned until after the summer recess.