A judge has ordered a mental health assessment of a teenage boy charged with the murder of a 61-year-old man and the attempted murder of the man’s wife and daughter in Co Tyrone.
The man was killed and his eight-year-old daughter severely injured in an attack in their home in Lisnahull Road in Dungannon on Saturday morning. She is now in a stable condition in hospital.
The girl’s mother also sustained non-life-threatening injuries.
The 16-year-old boy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared in a youth court in Omagh for a short hearing this morning.
He is charged with murder, two attempted murders and threats to kill.
The teenager spoke only to confirm that he understood the charges.
A PSNI detective sergeant told the court she could connect him to the four charges.
A solicitor for the accused said there were clear concerns about his mental health and made an application for a mental health assessment.
District Judge Conor Heaney granted the application and ordered an assessment to be carried out.
The defendant was remanded into custody to appear in court again by video link on 15 September.
The PSNI yesterday paid tribute to officers who administered first aid to the young girl, saying their quick actions had undoubtedly given her a fighting chance of survival.