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| Marion Millican murder accused 'meant to kill himself' | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| A man accused of shooting dead a laundrette assistant meant instead to kill himself in front of her, the High Court has heard. | A man accused of shooting dead a laundrette assistant meant instead to kill himself in front of her, the High Court has heard. |
| Marion Millican, 51, was shot as she ate lunch at her work in Portstewart, County Londonderry, in March. | Marion Millican, 51, was shot as she ate lunch at her work in Portstewart, County Londonderry, in March. |
| Fred McClenaghan, of Broad Street, Magherafelt, has been charged with her murder. | Fred McClenaghan, of Broad Street, Magherafelt, has been charged with her murder. |
| Prosecutors told the court that Mr McClenaghan claimed her death was accidental. | Prosecutors told the court that Mr McClenaghan claimed her death was accidental. |
| The court was told the mother-of-four had been in a relationship with her alleged killer which ended months earlier. | The court was told the mother-of-four had been in a relationship with her alleged killer which ended months earlier. |
| Following Mr McClenaghan's arrest, a shotgun was recovered from an area between Portrush and Ballymoney. | Following Mr McClenaghan's arrest, a shotgun was recovered from an area between Portrush and Ballymoney. |
| Crown counsel Philip Henry said the accused was interviewed 14 times without speaking. | Crown counsel Philip Henry said the accused was interviewed 14 times without speaking. |
| Concerns | Concerns |
| However, at one stage he provided a statement saying: "It was my intention to kill myself on Friday March 11 and that Marion would witness my suicide." | However, at one stage he provided a statement saying: "It was my intention to kill myself on Friday March 11 and that Marion would witness my suicide." |
| It added: "I did not intend to kill Marion. I did not intend to harm Marion. | It added: "I did not intend to kill Marion. I did not intend to harm Marion. |
| "Marion's death was an accident and I am truly sorry." | "Marion's death was an accident and I am truly sorry." |
| The details emerged as Mr McClenaghan sought compassionate bail to attend the funeral of his grandmother. | The details emerged as Mr McClenaghan sought compassionate bail to attend the funeral of his grandmother. |
| Opposing his application, Mr Henry claimed he was capable of "extreme volatility". | Opposing his application, Mr Henry claimed he was capable of "extreme volatility". |
| Referring to the shooting, the barrister claimed it was pre-meditated rather than a spur-of-the-moment incident. | Referring to the shooting, the barrister claimed it was pre-meditated rather than a spur-of-the-moment incident. |
| A defence barrister attempted to overcome concerns about McClenaghan's state of mind by saying he had neglected prescribed medication at the time of the incident. | A defence barrister attempted to overcome concerns about McClenaghan's state of mind by saying he had neglected prescribed medication at the time of the incident. |
| The court was told he was now taking it while in custody. | The court was told he was now taking it while in custody. |
| State of mind | State of mind |
| Mr Justice Hart accepted the relationship between the accused and his grandmother was close enough to qualify for compassionate release. | Mr Justice Hart accepted the relationship between the accused and his grandmother was close enough to qualify for compassionate release. |
| But refusing bail, he said: "I have to have regard to the circumstances surrounding the offence itself, because they clearly demonstrate a degree of pre-meditation that is deeply disturbing." | But refusing bail, he said: "I have to have regard to the circumstances surrounding the offence itself, because they clearly demonstrate a degree of pre-meditation that is deeply disturbing." |
| The judge said the possible impact of not taking his medicine had on McClenaghan's state of mind remained to be seen. | The judge said the possible impact of not taking his medicine had on McClenaghan's state of mind remained to be seen. |
| He added: "It does, however, seem to me to suggest he is someone who behaves on occasion in an irrational or irresponsible fashion." | He added: "It does, however, seem to me to suggest he is someone who behaves on occasion in an irrational or irresponsible fashion." |
| Prosecution concerns about potential interference with witnesses was also taken into account, with Mr Justice Hart concluding it would be inappropriate to release McClenaghan. | Prosecution concerns about potential interference with witnesses was also taken into account, with Mr Justice Hart concluding it would be inappropriate to release McClenaghan. |