17/05/2006

Ballymena man remanded over Fleming murder

A 25-year-old man has appeared in Ballymena Magistrates Court today, charged with the murder of Patrick Fleming in Coleraine at the weekend.

Desmond Andrew Heaney, from Dunclug Park in Ballymena, denied the charge, saying that he was "definitely not guilty".

He was remanded in custody.

Mr Fleming was fatally stabbed in a flat in the Hazelbank Road area of Coleraine in the early hours of Sunday morning.

He was taken to hospital, where he later died from his injuries.

In December 2004, the Assets Recovery Agency (ASA) froze assets belonging to Mr Fleming, worth a total of £460,000.

The assets included a house, ten acres of land, 15 horses and an equestrian exercise arena.

At the time, the ASA said that the assets had been obtained through the proceeds of Mr Fleming's alleged illegal drug dealing.

However his family maintain that he was wrongly accused.

Mr Fleming's funeral will take place later today.

(EF/SP)

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