Woman appears in court charged with Antrim murder
A 34-year-old woman was remanded into custody charged with the murder of a man who died following a house fire in Ballymoney, Co Antrim, on Tuesday.
Martin Patrick Douglas died in hospital later that day. Mr Douglas ran a tattoo business in the town.
Police received a report of a fire at a house on the main street of the town and 55-year-old Mr Douglas was removed from the house and brought to hospital where he died from his injuries.
Following a number of enquiries, police confirmed on Thursday that a 34-year-old woman had been arrested on suspicion of murder.
She was charged with the murder yesterday.
She was escorted into Ballymena Magistrates Court this morning by police, walking past the victim's family and friends in the public gallery.
The woman cannot be named for legal reasons.
She spoke only to confirm she understood the charge against her.
The court heard the fire happened in the early hours.
Police told the court that forensic experts believed the fire may have been caused by direct ignition of combustible material.
A defence lawyer argued the forensic report also said an electrical fault could have been to blame.
No application for bail was made and the woman was remanded in custody to appear before court again at the end of the month.
