Man (20) accused of McGreevy murder

A MAN has been remanded in custody accused of murdering former republican prisoner Frank McGreevy.

Mr McGreevy (51), a father of two, died on Tuesday in hospital from head injuries after being beaten at his home in west Belfast. He had been on a life-support machine since the weekend attack

Thomas Valliday (20) appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court charged with the killing and six other offences.

They included assault occasioning actual bodily harm and unlawful wounding connected to alleged attacks on two other men near the scene of the killing.

Mr Valliday also faces three counts of criminal damage involving a car, a Land-Rover and a house window.

A seventh charge related to being unlawfully at large from Hydebank Wood Young Offenders' Centre in south Belfast.

Mr Valliday spoke only to confirm he understood the charges during a short hearing at the Belfast court.

After a detective inspector claimed he could connect him with the offences, he was remanded in custody to appear again by video link next month.

Mr McGreevy died from the injuries inflicted during the attack at his flat in Ross Street in the Lower Falls area on Saturday.

He was found lying in a pool of blood by his son Francis (15).

© 2008 The Irish Times

This article appears in the print edition of the Irish Times