Belfast man admits causing fatal injuries to mother-of-four Caoimhe Morgan but denies murder

Taylor McIlvenna is accused of killing 30-year-old Caoimhe Morgan at her home in Harcourt Drive home in Belfast.

A Belfast man has admitted causing fatal injuries to a 30-year old mother-of-four, but denied her murder.

Caoimhe Morgan's body was discovered in her Harcourt Drive home in the city on 18 December 2021.

The man accused of her murder, Taylor George McIlvenna from Highvale Gardens, appeared at Belfast Crown Court on Friday where a compassionate bail application was made and refused.

Attending the hearing via a video link with HMP Maghaberry, the 31-year-old confirmed his identity and was then charged with murdering Ms Morgan on 18 December 2021.

When the charge was put to the accused, he replied “not guilty.” He was also charged with, and denied, two separate counts of cruelty to a child on the same date.

After McIlvenna entered his pleas, his barrister Eilis McDermott KC told Mr Justice O'Hara: "It is accepted by the defendant that he was the person who caused the fatal injuries."

The barrister added the issue concerning her client was a "medical" one and that a doctor will be examining McIlvenna in May with a report available the following month.

Mr Justice O'Hara said he would review the case at the end of June then said: "That now leaves us with an application to visit his mother's grave."

Ms McDermott requested that McIlvenna be released on compassionate bail for a few hours next Wednesday to visit his mother's grave on the anniversary of her death.

The barrister said McIlvenna's brother had undertaken to collect him from Maghaberry, accompany him at all times and return him to prison.

Ms McDermott told the Judge: "Visiting his mother's grave is something that has been very much in his mind since he went into custody in December 2021."

Crown barrister Liam McCollum KC said bail was opposed for several reasons including concerns that McIlvenna could interfere with witnesses and his "lengthy criminal record".

Revealing McIlvenna "has already made two threats of physical harm to one of the witnesses in this investigation", Mr McCollum said police has concerns about further intimidation.

Pointing out Ms Morgan was killed when McIlvenna was in breach of court orders, Mr McCollum said this indicated the accused has "scant regard" for such orders.

He also told Mr Justice McCollum it was "unsuitable" to release the accused into his brother's custody as McIlvenna's brother has "very significant criminal record".

Mr Justice O'Hara said McIlvenna has pleaded not guilty to murdering Ms Morgan but that "it has been made clear to the court he admits the fact that he is responsible for her death.

"The only issue which is effectively left to be investigated is whether his medical condition was such that it might lead to the charge of murder being reduced."

Regarding the application for compassionate bail, the Judge said it was not normal practice to grant bail to accommodate a visit to the grave of a loved one.

Refusing the request, he said McIlvenna's criminal record and background "are such that I could not be satisfied that if he was released - even on compassionate bail for a few hours to visit his mother's grave - that he would adhere to any conditions of bail that were imposed."

McIlvenna was remanded back into custody and Mr Justice O'Hara said he would review the case on June 23.

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