A COURT heard today that a second man has been charged with the murder of Co Antrim labourer Anthony McErlain.
The details emerged during a hearing at Belfast Crown Court where Christopher Keenan was due to be arraigned on a charge of murdering Mr McErlain in the seaside town of Ballycastle on January 28 2016.
Keenan (35) whose address was listed as Broombeg View, Ballycastle, and is currently in Maghaberry Prison, was not in court for the hearing.
Prosecution counsel Michael Chambers told Mr Justice Treacy that a second man also arrested at the time, Keenan's 51-year-old uncle John Keenan, was released pending a report to the Public Prosecution Service and a decision had since been taken to prosecute.
"He was located during the week in England and was brought back to Northern Ireland,'' said Mr Chambers who revealed he will face a preliminary enquiry on Monday.
"John Keenan will then be returned to the crown on this murder charge and it is my application to submit to the court a single bill of indictment for both of the accused," the lawyer said.
He asked for a two week adjournment to allow both defendants be arraigned on the single charge of murder.
Defence counsel John McCrudden QC for Christopher Keenan told Mr Justice Treacy: "I have not had an opportunity to consult with my client.... Christopher is the nephew of John Keenan... he is an alcoholic.
"He is in custody and I will have difficulty in consulting him due to ongoing trial commitments..."
Mr Justice Treacy adjourned the hearing until until Friday June 9 when it is expected both men will be formally arraigned on the murder charge.
No details were given in court today about the murder but at the time police said that he suffered a "traumatic and frightening death''.
The father-of-two was a labourer who had spent many years living in the Republic and had worked for a construction company in Dunloy, Co Antrim.
