Northern Ireland

Double killer Hazel Stewart ordered to hand over share of home

Convicted double killer Hazel Stewart
Convicted double killer Hazel Stewart Convicted double killer Hazel Stewart

A High Court judge has ordered convicted double killer Hazel Stewart to hand over her share of a house in Co Derry.

In 2011 Stewart was convicted of the murder of her former husband Trevor Buchanan and Lesley Howell, the wife of her then lover Colin Howell.

It was originally believed the murdered couple had died in a suicide pact in 1991 with the truth only emerging after Howell confessed his role to church elders who urged him to go to police.

In 2010 Howell was sentenced to a minimum 21-year term while Stewart was told she will have to serve at least 18 years.

The National Crime Agency said some of Stewart’s interest in a house she shared with her current husband David Stewart in Macosquin "can be linked to fraudulently claimed insurance policies and police pension benefits" following the death of her first husband.

There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by Mr Stewart.

A civil recovery order was made by Mrs Justice Keegan earlier this week.

The property will now be sold.