A mechanic was remanded in custody when he appeared at a court in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, yesterday charged with the rape of a 91-year-old woman in Castlederg, Co Tyrone, earlier this year. Ms Mary Anne McLaughlin was attacked in her home in an isolated rural area close to the Donegal Border and died shortly after the incident. The RUC and Garda carried out an extensive operation in which about 600 men on both sides of the Border were DNA tested for elimination purposes. Mr Eamon Foley (39), of Dreenan Road, Castlederg, stood in the dock flanked by three police officers as he was charged with raping the woman between January 14th and 15th.
A detective inspector said he arrested, charged and cautioned Mr Foley yesterday. In response to the rape charge Mr Foley stated: "Not guilty."
Mr Foley's solicitor, Mr Cormac McKeown, asked the detective inspector to confirm that throughout the police interview Mr Foley had consistently denied any involvement in the offence. The officer agreed that that was the case. On a police application Mr Foley was remanded in custody to Strabane Court today.