A civilian police employee accused of murdering his estranged wife with a pistol given to him for his own protection, was granted limited bail in the High Court in Belfast yesterday.
Mr Adrian Stewart Baird (46), Loughloughan Road, Broughshane, Co Antrim, was released from prison for four weeks so that he can have psychiatric treatment in hospital.
Mr Baird, who worked for the PSNI as an armourer, is charged with murdering his wife Katrina, a 42-year-old mother of three, in her employer's home at Buckna Road, Broughshane, where she was a childminder. The couple had been estranged for six weeks before she was killed by a single gunshot wound to the head on February 10th.
Mr Richard Weir, counsel for Mr Baird, said his client had a history of depressive illness and his condition had deteriorated since he was remanded in custody on February 12th. "It seems he has not eaten since going into custody because of his depressive illness," said Mr Weir.
"He wants to go to Holywell Hospital to, as he puts it, get the pain stopped." Mr Weir applied for a short release which could be reviewed depending on Mr Baird's medical condition.
Lord Justice McCollum released Mr Baird for four weeks on personal bail of £500 with two sureties of £500 each. He said Mr Baird must remain as an in-patient in Holywell and must not leave without the permission of medical staff.