Pair returned for trial in murder case

At Craigavon Magistrates Court, sitting in Omagh, a prosecution lawyer submitted that on the basis of the legal papers, there is a Prima Facie case against 24-year-old Shauneen Boyle and Stephen Hughes (28) that they were responsible for the death of Owen Creaney.

Boyle, from Edenderry Park in Banbridge and Hughes, from Moyraverty Court in Craigavon, are jointly charged with the murder of 40-year-old Mr Creaney on a date unknown between July 4-5 last year and previous courts have heard how the pair blame each other for the killing in a so-called ‘cut throat defence.’

Although no facts surrounding the case were opened on Friday, earlier courts have heard how the badly beaten body of 40-year-old Mr Creaney was found hidden in a wheelie bin at the back of Hughes’ house at Moyraverty Court in the town after a report of suspicious activity, although police believe that he may have been in the bin for a number of days.

On Friday at Omagh courthouse, the case against Boyle had been scheduled for a Preliminary Investigation with the defence set to call three forensic witnesses to contest whether there was in fact a case for Boyle to answer.

However, her defence lawyer told District Judge Bernie Kelly they no longer intended to have a PI.

That being the case, neither Boyle’s lawyer nor Tony Lunny, acting on behalf of Hughes, made contrary submissions to the Crown contention there was sufficient evidence against them to warrant returning the case to the Crown Court.

Remanding the pair back into custody, Judge Kelly ordered them to appear before the higher court on November 6 for arraignment.