Burglar Finds Body In Lurgan Flat

A would-be burglar found the blood-covered body of a man who had been battered to death two days previously.

Andrew Lorimer, 43, was found dead in Portlec Place, Lurgan, in the early hours of February 5 this year.

The details of his body's discovery have emerged in a murder trial at the High Court.

Three men are charged with what is suspected to have been a homophobic attack.

The court heard Mr Lorimer was beaten with a hammer during the assault, which was fuelled by drink and drugs.

He allegedly invited the three men – Christopher Wright, James Jordan and Richard Chester - into his flat on February 3, before making a suggestive remark about one of their bodies.

Kate McKay, prosecution barrister, said: "The motivation is thought to be something with homophobic overtones."

Jordan, Chester and Wright have each given different accounts of how Mr Lorimer sustained the injuries he died of some hours later.

Mrs McKay said it was a coincidence that another man broke into the flat two days later, and contacted the emergency services.

Wright, of Mount Zion House, Lurgan, applied for bail yesterday.

Defence counsel Michael Boyd told the court Wright tried to stop the others carrying out the assault, and when this failed he left the premises "in disgust".

But Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan denied bail due to the potential for re-offending.

He said Mr Lorimer had been "savagely beaten".

Co-accused James Jordan, 18, was previously refused bail on April 26.

(NE)