Homeless man in court over pensioner's fatal mugging

A homeless man appeared in court today charged with murdering a pensioner who was mugged in a city centre attack.

Stephen McAree, 37, was remanded in custody after being accused of the fatal assault on 67-year-old James Connor outside a pub in Belfast.

He faces a further charge of stealing a wallet from another elderly man, 85-year-old John McGovern.

Both attacks happened in daylight last Wednesday.

Mr Connor died in hospital hours after the mugging. He was attacked from behind and struck several times on the head outside the Mermaid bar at Wilson Court off High Street.

Just five minutes later, Mr McGovern had his wallet taken when he was confronted on leaving another pub on the other side of High Street.

McAree, of no fixed address, made no comment during a five-minute appearance at Belfast Magistrates’ Court today.

But Detective Sergeant Alan Smyth told magistrate Ken Nixon that he could connect him with both charges.

The accused was remanded in custody to appear again via video link on May 22.