Man charged with fraud in journalist murder investigation

A man charged with fraud by false representation in relation to the investigation into the murder of journalist Martin O'Hagan has appeared in court in Craigavon.

42-year-old Michael Kingsberry of Sycamore Close in Doncaster is accused of claiming to hold official documents with the intention to make a gain for himself or another or to cause loss to the family of Martin O'Hagan.

No details of the alleged offence were presented in court but Mr Kingsberry said he understood the charge against him and a detective constable said she could connect the accused to the charge.

Mr Kingsberry had been on police bail - this was converted to court bail of £500.

He is to reside at an approved address. Other requirements include that Mr Kingsberry does not contact anyone connected to Mr O'Hagan or enter Lurgan's 30mph zone.

The matter will return to court on 13 June.

Mr Kingsberry was arrested in Sheffield in April before being transported to Northern Ireland for questioning in the serious crime suite at Musgrave Police Station in Belfast.

A search of a property in Sheffield was also carried out as part of the operation.

Mr O'Hagan was 51 years old when he was killed as he walked home with his wife from a pub on 28 September 2001.

He was a journalist for the Sunday World newspaper when he was shot dead by the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF).

He was the first working journalist to be killed in Northern Ireland since the outbreak of the Troubles in 1969.

As a reporter for the newspaper, he had built a reputation for stories which exposed paramilitaries and drug dealers operating in Northern Ireland.

No-one has ever been convicted for his murder. Charges brought against individuals in 2010 and 2011 were withdrawn.