A 26-year-old man appeared in court this morning carged with the murder of Lauren O’Neill (18) in Bellaghy, Co Derry, on Saturday morning.
Phelim McNally from Station Park in Toombridge was also charged with the attempted murder of the dead woman’s sister Brenda O’Neill (21).
Mr McNally is Brenda O’Neill’s former partner and the father of her two young children.
Brenda O’Neill remains in a serious condition in hospital.
Mr McNally replied “I do” when asked by a court clerk if he understood the two charges.
Det Sgt John Walsh of the PSNI’s Crime Operations Unit in Belfast told District Judge Barney McElholm he believed he could connect the defendant to both charges.
There was no bail application from the defendant’s solicitor Ronan McCourt.
The judge remanded Mr McNally in custody for a video link hearing at Magherafelt District Court on June 13th.
:quality(70)/s3.amazonaws.com/arc-authors/irishtimes/9b24e066-d8f8-4bbe-b3df-50fc163ecf03.png)