Farm labourer denies murdering retired librarian

A farm labourer accused of murdering retired librarian Attracta Harron today denied having any involvement with her.

But Trevor Hamilton, 23, admitted lying to police about being out driving a car which was found on fire later on the same day the pensioner went missing.

Blood samples recovered from a mat in the Hyundai Lantra contained DNA with a billion-to-one chance of belonging to anyone but the 65-year-old mother-of-five, the trial heard.

The car was found burning in the garden of Hamilton’s home at Concess Road, Sion Mills, Co Tyrone, hours after Mrs Harron disappeared while walking home from Mass on December 11, 2003.

Her naked body, wrapped in sackcloth, was discovered four months later following a major search operation.

As he took the stand at Dungannon Crown Court today for the first time, Hamilton confirmed he had told police the Hyundai had not been on the road.

In fact, he had driven it to the nearby village of Clady to get petrol and gone on a second journey in the area around his home before later discovering it on fire, the court was told.

He agreed with defence QC Philip Mooney’s query that he had told officers the vehicle had not been taken out. Explaining this, Hamilton said: “I had no tax, MOT, licence or insurance.”

The accused also claimed detectives said to him they “didn’t give a hoot” about any potential driving offences as they questioned him about his movements on that day.

Hamilton was arrested in the bedroom of his home in March and taken for three days of questioning at Antrim police station, the court heard.

At that stage the body of Mrs Harron, who vanished after returning to her home in Strabane, Co Tyrone following a church service across the border in Lifford, Co Donegal, had not been found.

During police interviews Hamilton also told detectives that on December 11 he had gone to an address in Castlederg, but today admitted in court that that was incorrect.

“I was confused at the time... I wasn’t actually thinking right,” he said.

Hamilton described how he had felt angry at the time of his arrest due to being accused of murder.

After being asked by Mr Mooney if he had anything to do with the murder victim either on December 11 or any other day, he replied emphatically: “No.”

The barrister pressed him further: “Did you murder her?”

Hamilton again responded: “No.”

The trial continues.