Man charged with Co Antrim murder

A 46-year-old man was appearing in court today accused of the murder of a childminder shot dead at a Georgian mansion in Co Antrim.

The man, a civil servant who works for the Police Service of Northern Ireland, was arrested on Monday by murder squad detectives.

He was charged last night and was due to appear at Ballymena Magistrates Court later today, charged with the murder of mother-of-two Catrina Baird, 40.

She was gunned down in the courtyard of the house in the village of Broughshane, near Ballymena.

Mrs Baird, who was separated from her husband, worked for wealthy businessman Ken Dickson and his wife Barbara, a veterinary surgeon. They have two young children.

The victim recently moved into a new home, close to her daughter, who has two children. Her parents also live in the village.