Child killer denies maliciously wounding prison inmate

The 36-year-old pleaded “not guilty” to the single charge that on June 6, 2014 he unlawfully and maliciously wounded Dennis Lancaster.

After McCarney entered his plea and denied the charge, Craigavon Crown Court Judge Patrick Lynch QC remanded him back into custody in Maghaberry Prison for his trial on June 13, which is expected to last two to three days.

Neither crown prosecutor Joseph Murphy, nor McCarney’s barrister Denis Boyd revealed any details surrounding the case during Monday’s hearing.

McCarney, originally from Woodview Crescent, Trillick, Co Tyrone, was jailed in January 2013 for the sexual abuse, GBH and murder of his partner’s 15-month-old daughter, Millie Martin.

Baby Millie was admitted to the emergency department of Erne Hospital in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, in December 2009 with serious injuries including seven fractured ribs, heavy bruising and a burnt finger following weeks of abuse in the Glebe Park home of her mum Rachel.

An eight-week jury trial in Omagh heard that in addition to the fatal blow to the back of her head, baby Millie suffered a multitude of other injuries, including horrific internal injuries which could have proved just as fatal.

These injuries to her abdomen had been caused by punching or prodding not only in the weeks, but possibly even in the hours, before her death.

In May last year his appeal against the convictions was dismissed, and a month later he abandoned his challenge to the minimum 25-year sentence imposed on him.