“Complex mental health issues” in Derry Court Case

A solicitor told Derry Magistrate’s Court today that neither the defence team nor the police could find any record of an attack that a man charged with being involved in the murder an RUC officer 21 years ago had admitted to.
40 year old Christopher O’Kane 10 Woodland Avenue in Derry is charged with a range of offences, including assisting offenders following the shooting dead of Constable Michael Ferguson in January 1993 on Shipquay Street.
At today’s sitting of Derry Magistrate’s Court defence solicitor Mr. Ciaran Shields said there were complex issues involved in the case.
He said that no-one has been able to find any record of an attack with a Semtex device on Strand Road RUC station in 1993, one of a number of crimes O’Kane had allegedly admitted.
He also said that many of O’Kane’s admissions contradicted others he was supposed to have made.
The solicitor said there were complex mental health issues, and that O’Kane had spent the Christmas period in hospital. He said that one of the issues was whether O’Kane would even be fit to plead.
Mr. Sheilds said a medical report that was being prepared had been delayed due to the volume of material the doctor had to consider.
The case was adjourned until January 30.