25/10/2007

Son Granted Bail In Cut Throat Murder Case

The man accused of the matricide of Warrenpoint woman Annie McCartan has been released on bail in Belfast's High Court.

The 75-year-old was found with her throat cut at her Co Down home in June last year.

Her son, David McCartan, a 36-year-old father of two, also from Warrenpoint, was previously alleged to have a financial motive for murdering the mother-of-13 in that she was blocking a property development which would have earned her son over £2 million.

Mr Justice Morgan said he had refused four previous bail applications because he considered the risks to the murder investigation outweighed the need for McCartan to be released into the community.

"Bearing in mind that this case may not come to trial for some time, I consider the risks to have shifted the other way and I am going to admit him to bail," said the judge.

McCartan was released on a cash surety of £10,000, ordered to stay out of Warrenpoint, Rostrevor and Newry, and also to report daily to the police.

His wife, Geraldine, 34, who is also accused of the murder, was released on bail last January.

(BMcC)

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