LURGAN, Northern Ireland – A court in Craigavon heard details of a disturbing case involving the murder of 23-year-old Odhran Kelly in a flat in Lurgan. Shane Harte, 32, who has been charged with murder, denies seeing the victim at any stage despite CCTV footage showing him in the flat. Harte applied for bail, but it was refused by District Judge Francis Rafferty due to concerns about the risk of further offenses and potential interference with the investigation.
Harte’s co-accused, Gary Scullion, 31, along with three women, Andrea Stevenson, Stephanie McClelland, and Crystal Angela Redden, also face charges related to Mr. Kelly’s death. Stevenson and McClelland are accused of assisting an offender by removing the body, while Redden is accused of making a false statement with intent to pervert the course of justice.
The court heard how police found Mr. Kelly’s badly burnt body after they were called to a car fire. Upon further investigation, officers found a distressing scene in the flat, including a significant amount of blood, drug paraphernalia, cash, and blood-stained clothing. The police believe that Harte, Scullion, and the three women, were all captured on CCTV carrying the body from the flat.
According to Detective Sergeant Weir, there are substantial concerns about Harte. The officer described the murder as a prolonged, violent assault using weapons that caused fatal injuries. Describing Harte as a “dangerous individual”, the police are worried about him committing further offenses or interfering with witnesses or the administration of justice.
While the defense argued for bail, District Judge Rafferty refused, citing the background of the case and police concerns, concluding that Harte is not a suitable candidate for bail. The cases against all the defendants have been adjourned to March 1.
The disturbing details of this ongoing case have shocked the community, and as the investigation progresses, more information is likely to emerge, shedding light on the events that led to this tragic and senseless loss of life.