Man accused of murder and rape

A 42-year-old man is tonight charged with the murder of a pensioner in Northern Ireland last December and the serious sexual assault of his 67-year-old sister.

The man was due to appear at Cookstown Magistrates Court tomorrow in connection with the death of 76-year-old Patrick McGrath in his home at Killeen crossroads near Coalisland on December 19.

He will face murder, attempted murder and rape charges at the sitting of Cookstown Magistrates which will take place in Dungannon.

In January, police urged men aged between 14 and 40 in the area to give a DNA sample to help their investigation into the horrific attack.

Detectives insisted the samples would not be added to their DNA data base nor would they be checked against other crimes. They also gave an assurance that they would be destroyed once the investigation was completed.