Two charged with O'Hagan murder

Two men have been charged with the murder of journalist Martin O'Hagan in Lurgan seven years ago.

Neil Hyde, 28, of Princetown Avenue, and Nigel William Leckey, 43, of Bowens Lane were both accused of the killing.

Mr Leckey was also charged with possessing ammunition.

A third man, 42-year-old Robin Andrew King was charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice by disposing of, or concealing, the getaway car.

Mr King was described in Lisburn Magistrates Court as a leading member of the LVF in the mid-Ulster area.

A fourth man, Mark Kennedy, 28, was accused of helping to facilitate the disposal or concealment of the getaway car.

Mr Kennedy was granted bail, but the other three defendants were remanded in custody because of the concerns over intimidation, absconding or committing further offences.

Mr O'Hagan, 51, was shot dead as he walked home with his wife from a pub in Lurgan, County Armagh in 2001.

The murder was claimed by the Red Hand Defenders, a cover name used by both the Loyalist Volunteer Force and the Ulster Defence Association.

Mr O'Hagan, who worked for the Sunday World newspaper, had built up a reputation for breaking paramilitary and drug-dealing stories.