DETECTIVES have tonight charged a man with trying to kill a two-year old girl at the weekend following an altercation.

The victim is being treated in hospital following the attack in Bessbrook, Co Armagh on Sunday evening and remains in a critical condition..

Following the incident in the Charlment Square at 7.45 pm on Sunday evening, a man, aged in his 20s, was arrested under the Offences Against the Persons Act.

He was being questioned at a police station in Armagh.

On Monday, police were granted an extension by a district judge to detain him for an extra 36 hours.

On Wednesday evening, Major Investigation Team detectives charged the man with the attempted murder of the young girl which belonged to his new partner.

He is to appear at Banbridge Magistrates’ Court, sitting in Newry city, on Thursday morning.