Man pleads guilty to Bangor murder

Denis Curtis Shearer died on 9 March 2021 after an attack in February

A County Down man has admitted the murder of his partner’s cousin.

Timothy Walker was due to go on trial at Downpatrick Crown Court on Monday but instead, a defence lawyer asked for the 43-year-old to be rearraigned.

Walker, originally from Abbey Ring in Holywood but now with an address at HMP Maghaberry, pleaded guilty to the murder of Denis Curtis Shearer, 25, in Bangor on 9 March 2021.

The judge imposed a life sentence, with a tariff to be fixed next year.

Walker attacked Mr Shearer at a property on Fernmore Road on 28 February.

He bludgeoned Mr Shearer with a “blunt instrument” before leaving him fatally injured.

Mr Shearer died in hospital on 9 March.

Walker's partner Natalie Brannigan, from The Green in Holywood, was also rearraigned and admitted that she assisted an offender.

The court heard that Brannigan picked up Walker in the Glencairn area of north Belfast and drove him back to Holywood and then to Newtownards "in an effort to evade his detection and apprehension".

Earlier this year, Walker entered a guilty plea to “manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility” but that was not accepted by the prosecution.

The incident occurred at Mr Shearer's home in Bangor

In court on Monday, defence lawyers for Walker and Brannigan asked for sentencing to be adjourned to allow the probation board to complete pre-sentence reports.

A prosecuting lawyer said the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) would also be obtaining victim impact statements from Mr Shearer’s grieving relatives.

Addressing Walker, the judge Mr Justice O’Hara said: “It is more than three and a half years since you murdered Mr Shearer in his bed and you have now admitted your part in that offence."

He imposed a life sentence, with a tariff to be fixed next year.

Mr Justice O’Hara warned him that the life licence means that “you will be liable to be recalled to prison on any further criminality".

A defence lawyer asked for Brannigan to be freed on bail.

They emphasised that she has been on bail since the incident with no issues or breaches.

The judge granted bail but said this was no indication that she would not receive a prison sentence.

The case was adjourned until February 2025.