Victims Frances Murray, 37, and Joseph Dutton, 47, were found in a flat in the north of the city

This article is more than 8 months old

This article is more than 8 months old

A man charged with the pre-Christmas murder of two people at a Belfast flat has made “full admissions” to police, a court has heard.

Frances Murray, 37, and Joseph Dutton, 47, were found on Monday in a flat in Kinnaird Close off Antrim Road in the north of the city.

Steven Arthur Andre McBrine, 35, appeared at Belfast’s Laganside magistrates court on Thursday morning flanked by prison officers, but did not speak.

Defence solicitor Denis Moloney said McBrine lived in close proximity to the deceased and had been drinking with them that day before a dispute arose.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland said the defendant had made “full admissions” and that a connection was made between the accused and the two murder charges.

Moloney said: “This is a great tragedy, particularly at this time of year.”

He added his client had been “fully cooperative” during the police interview and gave a “full and quite frank” account.

Several nearby homes were evacuated during the major police operation in Kinnaird Close, where McBrine resided.

District judge George Conner refused to grant the accused bail. He will appear in court again on 23 January.