Two men to stand trial for murder of Shane Whitla

Image source, PSNI

Image caption, Shane Whitla was shot dead in an alleyway near his home in Lurgan in 2023

Two men have been ordered to stand trial for the murder of Shane Whitla.

The 39-year-old was shot dead in Lurgan in January 2023.

Jake O鈥橞rien, from Church Walk in Lurgan, and Joshua Cotter, from Madrid Street in Belfast, appeared at Craigavon Magistrates Court on Friday.

A third man, 26-year-old Kevin Conway had also been charged alongside them but he was shot dead in west Belfast in January 2024.

Neither Mr O'Brien nor Mr Cotter commented on the charges.

Mr Whitla was shot a number of times in an alleyway.

After the shooting the father-of-four made his way to Lord Lurgan Park, where he collapsed and died.

District Judge Michael Ranaghan returned the case to Laganside Crown Court for trial, with their arraignment scheduled to be heard on 6 September.

Remanding Mr O鈥橞rien back into custody and releasing Mr Cotter on continuing bail, the judge extended legal aid to allow for senior barristers to be instructed.