Castlederg murder accused’s proposed bail address rejected

ONE of the men accused of murdering Conor Browne in Castlederg last September has had a proposed bail address rejected due to its proximity to his alleged victim’s parents.

Jeffrey Bustard (28), who is originally from Newtownstewart, appeared via videolink at Strabane Magistrates Court this afternoon.

Bustard, along with his co-accused Adam Acheson, is charged with murdering 28-year-old man Mr Browne on September 2 last year.

Police say that Mr Browne died as the result of a fatal stab wound.

Bustard, who stringently denies the charge against him, was granted bail when he first appeared in court on September 6 last year.

But he has remained in custody since then, due to being unable to find a suitable bail address approved by the PSNI.

In court this afternoon, Bustard’s defence counsel, Ciaran Roddy, proposed an address on the outskirts of Newtownstewart.

However, police opposed this address, due to the close proximity of the property to Browne’s family home as well as the crime scene.

Police told the court that the proposed bail address was just over five miles from the Browne family home and just under six miles from the crime scene.

Deeming the address as “not suitable”, District Judge Alana McSorley said, “It is too close to the injured party’s family home and I believe there is too much of a possibility that this could increase tensions in the area.”