Detective back in court over James McDonagh murder in Toome

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James McDonagh, 28, from Castledawson died after he was assaulted outside a bar and nightclub complex on the Hillhead Road on Sunday morning. — PACEMAKER BELFAST FB James McDonagh, 28, from Castledawson died after he was assaulted outside a bar and nightclub complex on the Hillhead Road on Sunday morning.

PSNI officer Cathy Thompson was previously charged with two counts of intent to pervert the course of justice and one of withholding information in relation to the murder of 28-year-old James McDonagh near Toomebridge.

The 33-year-old officer, whose address was given as Coleraine PSNI Station, appeared at Magherafelt Magistrates Court on Wednesday for a brief hearing.

Wearing a grey suit and white blouse she had mingled with other court defendants in the court corridor before entering the court room and stepping into the dock to stand before District Judge Alan White to hear the date when her case has been adjourned to in May.

Thompson is accused of sending two text messages on January 10, the day of the murder.

The first message read: “yeah don’t have anything in the house that you shouldn’t have, they will then search the whole house for clothing”, the court was told.

A second message read: “Tell him to behave and say nothing”.

She was also accused of withholding information from police knowing that murder had been committed and that the information she had was likely “to be of material assistance in securing the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of some person for that offence”.

Finbar McCoy (24), from Loughbeg Road in Toomebridge, has appeared in court charged with Mr McDonagh’s murder.