Odhrán Kelly murder: Horrific details of a blood-soaked flat are shared at Craigavon court as Lurgan murder accused applies for bail

Shane Harte, aged 32, from Headington House, is accused of murdering Odhrán Kelly on December 3 last year in Edward Street, Lurgan. His body was found close to a burned out car near the flats where police believe the murder took place.

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Harte, who appeared via video link from Maghaberry Prison at Craigavon Magistrates Court on Friday (May 24) was requesting bail.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan heard Harte’s barrister Mr David McKeown say that his client last applied for bail in February but it was refused in Craigavon Magistrates Court and there was no High Court bail application.

Mr McKeown said, in relation to Friday’s bail application, there were more details regarding a bail address for Harte. He added that the defence were told there would be forensics at this stage but none have been received.

A prosecutor said a file was submitted on May 16 but some forensics are ‘still outstanding’. When asked what the nature of the outstanding forensics were, the prosecutor said it was around clothing relating to Mr Harte and the vehicle.

A PSNI detective sergeant, opposing bail, said that she was at Harte’s proposed bail address on Thursday and there were issues regarding the defendant staying at the property during the day.

She described a blood-soaked scene at what police believe is the flat where Mr Kelly was attacked. In the kitchen police found drugs paraphernalia, a plastic bag of cash, a box of disposable gloves, a pair of heavy duty work gloves with blood on them and a second bar stool with blood on it. Officers noted a strong smell of bleach.

Police went to the last known address for the owner of the car which was found burnt out – across the landing from a flat which is believed to be where Mr Kelly was murdered. Andrea Stephenson, who is facing a charge of assisting offenders in relation to this case, told police a man with a Dublin accent had made threats with a gun. She added there were three others inside the flat, a male and her friend and her child.

The officer said: “Claims were made that the man with the Dublin accent had made them all do what he had said and had put a gun to her child’s head and told her she had to help move an object. The male then told her to get out and get into her vehicle and move it round the side.

"There were weapons of a machete type found in the shower of her address. Police observed the flat had a strong smell of bleach. And her friend, who is also a co-accused, Stephanie McClelland, and her child were located in the living room of the flat. Gary Scullion, the co-accused, was located in the kitchen wearing only boxer shorts,” she said, adding there was blood-stained clothing in the washing machine.

She told the court that on December 6, Shane Harte was arrested on suspicion of murder. She revealed it was CCTV, phone inquiries and witness evidence which led to his arrest.

The officer said Harte had been at Scullion’s flat twice in the early hours of December 3 – the first time at 12.08am hours with CCTV footage showing him entering the flats and Harte admitted he was there. CCTV showed him wearing a Puffa-style jacket but Harte claims to have been wearing a red hoodie. She said Harte is seen on CCTV wearing a red Puffa jacket outside his mum’s house but this jacket has never been found.

The officer said Harte was seen leaving Scullion’s flat at 12.29am. Then at 1.14am hours Odhran Kelly is seen entering the flats and police believe he went to Scullion’s flat. At 1.45am Hart was captured entering the flats again wearing the same Puffa jacket and using his mobile phone. He had initially claimed in interview he went back to Scullion’s flat as he left his mobile phone there. After police checks confirmed a call from Harte’s to Scullion’s phone he changed his story saying he went to pay a £250 drugs debt.

The court heard that at 3.05am, Andrea Stevenson called Scullion’s mother to say there’s a disturbance in his flat. At 3.21am, Harte is seen leaving the flats. At 3.45am Scullion and one of the females leave the flat.

“We believe that is the beginning of them trying to dispose of Odhrán Kelly’s body," said the officer.

She said the outstanding forensics is linked to clothing in Harte’s car which he used to get to and from Scullion’s flat.

She said police were objecting to bail on a number of grounds including the bail address, that Harte has numerous convictions the majority of which relate to violent offences and that he is a flight risk, citing his trip to Galway the day after the murder. She added that police believe Harte has taken steps to conceal or destroy clothing he wore the night Odhrán Kelly was murdered.

The officer, in answering questions from Mr McKeown, agreed that Harte had rang police and offered to voluntarily go to the police station when he returned from Galway, however police decided to arrest him at his home.

The officer said she was aware that Harte’s flat had to be fumigated and they had to dispose of their belongings because of this. Mr McKeown said the case against his client is ‘at best circumstantial’.

The judge said: “Obviously the case against this defendant is a circumstantial case. A circumstantial case does not by its nature make it a weak case”

He said he was satisfied there is a prima facie case against Harte. He refused bail saying he believed there was ‘potential’ based on his record for a risk of further offending.