The body of murder victim Carrie Mullane was left in a campervan for two weeks before it was wrapped in plastic sheeting and dumped in a lough, Strabane Magistrates' Court has heard. Ms Mullane, 39, had been missing since she arrived in Enniskillen from Limerick on 10 October. Police recovered a body from Lough Erne in Co Fermanagh on Monday, and a formal identification process is continuing.

The court heard that during an alleged attack by her partner, Ms Mullane was struck a number of times on the head, including being hit with a vacuum cleaner. A nephew of the murder accused, who also faces charges, is suspected of attempting to help dispose of the body.S1S2

Michael Lynch, 35, of Trasna Park, Enniskillen, was charged at the weekend with Ms Mullane's murder and preventing the lawful burial of a corpse. His mother, Mary Lynch, 69, of Windmill Heights, Enniskillen, has been charged with withholding information from police. Kenneth Lynch, 31, of Trasna Park, a nephew of Michael Lynch and grandson of Mary Lynch, appeared by video link from Musgrave Street in Belfast on Thursday and was connected by a PSNI detective sergeant to charges of withholding information and encouraging or assisting in the offence of murder. He told the court he understood the charges, and a defence solicitor said no bail application was made, with the case adjourned until next week.S1S2

The detective sergeant told the court that on 29 October police were contacted by Gardaí about Ms Mullane, who had not been seen since 10 October. Michael Lynch initially said he was unsure when he had last seen her, then, when police revisited the Trasna Park address on 30 October, he changed his account and said they had both travelled to Enniskillen from Limerick by bus on 10 October after arguing about a former partner of his. CCTV from Enniskillen bus station showed Ms Mullane staggering before falling on the footpath outside the bus depot, and neighbours reported not having seen her for several weeks.S1S2