Ian Ogle: Woman admits charge of 'assisting an offender'

Ian Ogle was beaten and stabbed to death in east Belfast in 2019

A woman has pleaded guilty to a charge arising out of the murder of Ian Ogle in east Belfast in 2019.

Jill Morrison, 41, of Wolff Close, Belfast, had previously denied a charge of assisting offenders in relation to the killing.

A defence lawyer told Belfast Crown Court he had an application to have the defendant re-arraigned.

When the charge was amended to "assisting an offender" and put to Ms Morrison she replied "guilty".

The charge related to dates between 26 and 29 January in 2019.

Prosecuting counsel said the guilty plea was acceptable to the prosecution and asked that two further counts of perverting the course of justice and withholding information from police "be left on the books and not to be proceeded with without the leave of this court or the Court of Appeal''.

An agreed basis of plea document signed by both the prosecution and defence was handed into the judge.

The judge ordered the Probation Service to prepare a report on Ms Morrison for her sentencing hearing on a date yet to be fixed.

With no objections from the prosecution, the judge released Ms Morrison on continuing bail to await sentencing.

A non-jury Diplock-style trial of a number of men on charges arising from the murder of Ian Ogle is due to start next week at Belfast Crown Court.

The 45-year-old was beaten and stabbed to death near Cluan Place in east Belfast.