Police questioning a man about the murder of Barry McCrory in Derry a week ago have been given an extra 36 hours to question him.
Arrested: Kieran McLaughlin.
Detectives questioning Kieran McLaughlin, from Elaghmore Park, were granted the additional time at a Derry court this morning.
Mr McCrory (35) was shot dead by a lone gun man in an upstairs flat in Shipquay Street on Thursday morning last.
McLaughlin was arrested in the Fern Park area of Galliagh early yesterday morning. His detention followed a six-day cross-border manhunt after police named him as a person they would like to speak to in relation to the killing.
The 58-year-old was brought before Derry Magistrates from the PSNI Serious Crime Suite in Antrim this morning.
A PSNI de detective told Resident Magistrate Barney McElholm McLaughlin had been detained under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act and not under any terrorist legislation.
When asked by the defence solicitor Kevin Casey why the detained man had been transferred “on a whim” for questioning in Antrim, rather than in Strand Road police station, the detective said the decision was taken because the interviewing facilities in Antrim were “superior” to those in Derry.
Revealed McLaughlin was not questioned until 8.00am yesterday morning, five hours after arrest, because medical assessments had to be carried out.
Mr Casey said the decision to transfer Mr McLaughlin to Antrim was “not conducive to an expeditious police investigation”.
Police were granted the 36 hour extension from 11.57am this morning.
There as a heavy police presence inside and outside the court during McLaughlin’s brief appearance.
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