Murder victim Lisa McClatchey

A MAN has faced a court accused of the horrific double murder of a paedophile and his partner.

Christopher Paul Smith is now the fourth brother to be arrested and charged over the deaths almost seven years ago.

The 33-year-old, who is formerly of Mourneview in the village of Mowhan, Co Armagh, was arrested in Essex on Wednesday by officers from Kent and Essex police on behalf of the PSNI’s Serious Crime Branch.

Smyth is accused of the murders of convicted sex offender Thomas O’Hare and Lisa McClatchey in 2006.

The couple were beaten with hammers by a gang of masked men before their house on Foley Road near Tassagh, County Armagh, was set alight.

They both later died from their injuries following the attack in November.

An hour after the attack, four badly burned men appeared at a hospital across the border in County Louth.

They were later transferred for specialist treatment in Dublin.

Two of the Smith brothers, Martin and Niall, were arrested in the Republic and extradited to Northern Ireland in January.

Their youngest brother, Stephen, was later arrested in Australia and flown back to Northern Ireland.

The torched bungalow in Keady which was attacked in November 2006 by four men

At Armagh Crown Court on Friday morning, Christopher Smith spoke only to confirm his name and date of birth.

A committal hearing will take place on Tuesday with a view to him appearing alongside his brothers when the trial starts in early November.

All four deny the charges and remain in custody.