Ballymurphy Murder Accused Remanded

A court has today heard of a brutal killing in a troubled area of west Belfast.

A 49-year-old man was remanded in custody after being charged with the murder of Gerald Devlin, a west Belfast father-of-six.

Anthony Notorantonio whose address was not given in court, is also charged with affray on the same date.

He denies the charges and his brother and three nephews have already been charged with the murder.

Mr Devlin, who was 39, was stabbed to death outside his home in Whitecliff Parade, in the Ballymurphy area, in February 2006.

A police officer told Belfast Magistrates Court he believed he could connect the accused to the charges.

However, he agreed with a solicitor for Mr Notorantonio that during 10 interviews no evidence of a forensic nature had been put to the accused and he had consistently denied being involved in Mr Devlin's death.

The public prosecution service said it wanted Mr Notorantio to stand trial with his four co-accused on 31 March.

(BMcC)