Violence erupts following murder hearing

Violence has erupted in Newtownards Magistrates Court after three people appeared charged with the murder of a 59-year-old man on Thursday.

Daniel Martin Hargan, 46, Tammy McDowell, 18, and Polish national Jerzy Zalewski, 45, all from Dufferin Avenue in Bangor, denied murdering Edward Kelly.

Mr Kelly's body was found on Thursday in a house in the Central Avenue area of Bangor, where he was lodging.

A post-mortem examination revealed that Mr Kelly had died as the result of serious head injuries he had sustained during an attack.

Over a dozen of the victim's relatives attended the hearing and were surrounded by police as the defendants appeared in the dock.

A detective told the court that when charged all three had pleaded not guilty. She claimed that she could connect all three defendants to the charges.

All three were remanded in custody until July 7 and will appear at Castlereagh Magistrates Court via video link.

After the defendants left the Court, a fight erupted in the public gallery between friends and family of the deceased and those for the accused.

One man was taken away in handcuffs by the police and an ambulance was also called to the court.

A third man questioned about the death of Mr Kelly has been released on police bail pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service.

(EF/SP)