A MAN WHO was arrested on suspicion of murder within an hour of a fatal shooting in Bellaghy on Saturday is to appear in court this morning.
The 26-year-old is charged in relation to the murder of 18-year-old Lauren O’Neill. He also stands accused of the attempted murder of her sister, Brenda.
Also from the Bellaghy area, the suspect is due in Derry Magistrates Court after 10am.
Another woman injured in the attack, Lauren’s 21-year-old sister Brenda, remains seriously ill in hospital. She is understood to also have suffered significant injuries from a gunshot. Her family remain at her beside at Belfast’s Royal Victoria Hospital.
According to the Irish News, Lauren was shot dead trying to shield her elder sister from her attacker.
A man and woman, both aged 28, who were arrested following the attack on Saturday on suspicion of assisting an offender have been released.
The fatal shooting occurred at about 10am in the quiet housing estate, William Court, near Magherafelt. Lauren had celebrated her 18th birthday last week. It is understood that two young children were in the house at the time of the incident but were unharmed.
A postmortem examination will be carried out on Lauren’s body today.
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