Northern Ireland

Anita Downey: Man accused of murdering fiancee refused bail

David Lyness (51) is accused of murdering Anita Downey in Lurgan
David Lyness (51) is accused of murdering Anita Downey in Lurgan David Lyness (51) is accused of murdering Anita Downey in Lurgan

A man accused of murdering his fiancée has been refused bail.

Craigavon Magistrates Court heard for the first time yesterday about the alleged circumstances surrounding the death of Anita Downey (51) in January this year.

Her partner David Lyness, also 51, is in custody charged with her murder and appeared via videolink to apply for bail.

A detective constable told the court that Lyness's son made a 999 call at 2.49am telling the operator that "his father had slit his girlfriend's throat".

He said the couple had been "arguing over their engagement" and that his father had "pointed the knife at himself and said he was going to kill himself".

The officer said when police arrived at Lyness's house at Toberhewney Hall in Lurgan, Ms Downey was lying in a pool of blood with "an open wound to her neck".

The accused, who had been in a relationship with Ms Downey for three years, claimed during interviews that the inflicting of the wound "was an accident".

Police objected to bail, saying two proposed addresses were unsuitable.

District Judge Bernie Kelly refused the application and ordered Lyness back into custody to appear again on May 5.