Mother murder accused has bail revoked

Alun Kinney Evans (32) of Knockancor Drive in the town, appeared at Coleraine Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, where he was remanded to the hospital wing of Maghaberry.

Evans had been detained at the Shannon Clinic, a secure mental health unit in the Knockbracken Health Care Park, south Belfast, under the Mental Health Act, but the order, which lapsed on Thursday, was not renewed.

The court heard the defendant has a care plan which would continue to be implemented by his Doctor at Maghaberry Prison.

Retired hairdresser Margaret Evans, known as Margo, was found dead in her home in Portstewart on 4 June this year, but the circumstances of her death are still unclear.

When her son first appeared in court in October, a detective sergeant said Evans was initially arrested on the day of the killing but was deemed “unfit for interview”, and the following day he was transferred first to Holywell Hospital and then to the secure Shannon Clinic.

Alun Evans is also charged with possession of a class B drug with intent to supply. He will reappear via video link on 29 December.