Magherafelt man Fred McClenaghan makes second attempt to overturn murder conviction

Last week, senior judges in Belfast listed Fred McClenaghan’s appeal against the guilty verdict for a hearing in November.

McClenaghan, 53, is currently serving a 16-year prison sentence for killing Marion Millican with an antique shotgun in March 2011.

The 51-year-old mother-of-four was gunned down at the laundrette where she worked in Portstewart, Co Derry.

She had split up with her killer months earlier following a relationship said to have been characterised by violence.

McClenaghan, formerly of Broad Street in Magherafelt, has twice been unanimously convicted and jailed for life for the murder.

His original conviction was quashed on a technicality and a retrial ordered.

He claimed his intention had been to take his own life in front of Mrs Millican, but that his shotgun accidentally went off during a struggle in the laundrette.

However, in 2014 he was again found guilty of her murder.

Defence lawyers are now preparing to mount a second challenge to the conviction.

They went before the Court of Appeal today seeking transcripts from the retrial.

It was set out that part of their case involves issues about possible alternative charges of manslaughter.

Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan granted the request for all material sought.

He also listed the full appeal against conviction for a two-day hearing, getting underway on November 7. ends