Mother murder accused given bail

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A man accused along with his wife of murdering his mother has been released on bail.

David and Geraldine McCartan deny murdering 75-year-old Annie McCartan in her home in Warrenpoint, County Down, last June.

Mrs McCartan was beaten, stabbed and had her throat cut in her home at Summerhill.

Mr McCartan, 36, of Rossmara Park, Warrenpoint, was granted bail at the High Court in Belfast.

At a previous hearing, it was alleged Mrs McCartan was murdered because she was blocking a property development which would have earned her son £2.4m.

On Wednesday, Mr Justice Morgan said he had refused four previous bail applications because he considered the risks to the murder investigation outweighed the need for Mr 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.

Mr 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, was released on bail last January.