BELFAST: Brandon Rainey, accused of the murder of Chloe Mitchell and attempting to prevent her lawful and decent burial, had his entire defence team withdraw after the client-lawyer relationship broke down irretrievably. Madam Justice McBride remanded Rainey in custody and adjourned the case to Monday to allow him to secure new legal representation.

BELFAST: Paul Ivan Laird (58), from the Gracehill area of Ballymena, was refused bail at Belfast Magistrates' Court after being charged with stalking a 12-year-old girl on two consecutive nights and attempting to abduct her by asking her repeatedly to get into his car. District Judge Anne Marshall said she had no hesitation in refusing bail, citing the high risk he posed to children, and remanded him in custody until 9 April.

CRAIGAVON: Audris Gibronas (36), from Lithuania, appeared by video link from prison charged with causing grievous bodily injury by careless driving, aggravated vehicle taking, driving while disqualified and using a vehicle without insurance following an incident in Portadown on 23 December. His defence lawyer said he had only been visiting family for the Christmas holidays and was keen to leave custody and return home for medical treatment - the case was adjourned to 13 March.

CRAIGAVON: Michael Morgan (36), from Lisburn, was sentenced to 38 months imprisonment - 19 months in custody and 19 months on licence - after pleading guilty to attempted robbery of a supermarket in Lisburn, possession of an offensive weapon with intent to commit an indictable offence, and possession of a class C drug. Morgan had brandished a large knife at staff and attempted to steal from the cash register before fleeing empty-handed on 7 March 2025.

STRABANE: Martin McCarney (45) appeared by video link charged with the murder of 23-year-old Ellie Flanagan on 7 March and with possessing three knives with intent to commit murder. His solicitor told the court McCarney was "truly and genuinely sorry for all the pain and suffering" caused to the family and community in Enniskillen - he was remanded in custody and the case adjourned to 30 March.

STRABANE: A judge demanded a formal explanation from prosecutors after a committal hearing in a murder case could not proceed at the last minute, leaving the victim's family - who had attended every hearing since the death of Stephen Holmes in February 2025 - "annoyed and disappointed". Dylan McCrossan (32), charged with the murder of Holmes following an attack in Strabane, was remanded in continuing custody with the committal now listed for 16 April.