Father in court over Co Armagh arson attack

Updated: 20:05, Thursday, 1 February 2007

The father of four men who were badly burned on the same night as an arson attack in Co Armagh last November has appeared in court.

1 of 1Co Armagh - Accused remanded in custody
Co Armagh - Accused remanded in custody

The fire, near Tassagh, led to the deaths of 33-year-old Thomas O'Hare and his 21-year-old partner, Lisa McClatchey.

57-year-old Colum Smith from Mourneview, Mowhan, Co Armagh, appeared at Newry Magistrates Court.

He is alleged to have taken people he knew, or believed, were guilty of attempted murder out of Northern Ireland by car on 6 November.

Mr Smith is also accused of taking a car to a scrap yard near Armagh the day after the fire and arranging to have it destroyed.

He made no response when the charges were read out in court.

A PSNI detective told the court that the accused had made no reply when charged. He said he believed he could connect him with the charges.

Mr Smith's solicitor said he would be strenuously contesting the charges.

The accused was remanded in custody to appear again at Armagh Court later this month.

The day following the fire, four men were admitted to a Dublin hospital where they were treated for serious burns. Three have since been released.

Another man, a 43-year-old from Co Tyrone, has already appeared in court in Northern Ireland charged with withholding information about the arson attack.

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