Accused refused bail 
for holiday

Lurgan man Gary Martin Marshall, with a bail address at The Beeches, Portadown, is charged with the murder of Kevin Conway between February 16, 1998, and February 19, 1998.

His solicitor asked for the bail variation to allow Marshall to go on holiday to Lanzarote from October 15 to October 22. The holiday had been booked on September 10.

A police officer, who had been in contact with the investigating officer in the case, said police had agreed because there had been variations in the past.

District Judge, Mr Mervyn Bates, commented that given the defendant was involved in a part heard preliminary investigation how on earth could the police allow the defendant to leave the jurisdiction in the middle of a preliminary investigation.

A solicitor representing Marshall said he had been on bail from December 17, 2013, and that since then there had been three variations.

He said that Judge Bates had refused a variation last year for a holiday in July but this had been granted by the High Court.

The solicitor said there also had been variations so that Marshall could attend a friend’s wedding in Glasgow and his daughter’s graduation in Liverpool.

Judge Bates said that what concerned him was that this matter was taken as a foregone conclusion.

He added that he was not going to grant the application and that the defendant can make an application to the High Court.

“He should remain at home while the PE is ongoing,” said Judge Bates.