Man charged in Brett murder inquiry

Mr Brett was killed in a drive-by shooting

A 36-year-old man has appeared in court in Belfast in connection with the murder of a Protestant teenager last weekend.

Kenneth Samuel Wallace, of Pinewood Avenue in Carrickfergus, appeared at Belfast Magistrates Court on Saturday charged with withholding information about the murder of Gavin Brett.

Mr Brett, 18, was shot dead by loyalists in a drive-by shooting close to his home on the Hightown Road in Glengormley, County Antrim, last Sunday night.

The Red Hand Defenders - a cover name which has been used in the past for the Ulster Defence Association and the Loyalist Volunteer Force - said it carried out the murder.

Mr Wallace, a plasterer, was remanded in custody to appear before Newtownabbey Magistrates Court on 16 August.

Police say a second man arrested on Friday in connection with the murder has been released without charge.

Mr Brett was with a group of friends when he was killed

Meanwhile, the police are seeking more help from the public about the murder.

They say the car used by the killers was a dark blue Vauxhall Nova, registration number HDZ 6603.

After the Hightown Road shooting, the vehicle sped into Glengormley village, before driving along the Antrim Road.

At the Sandyknowles Roundabout, off the M2 motorway, the driver was so keen to make his get-away he drove against the flow of traffic.

The police want to speak to any drivers who had to swerve to avoid the get-away car.

The vehicle drove up the Ballyhenry Road to the loyalist New Mossley Estate, where it was later found burnt out.

The murder came after weeks of sporadic sectarian street fighting in Belfast and attacks on homes throughout Northern Ireland.