Police probing Ian Ogle murder were ‘constantly watched’, court is told

A detective also claimed he was denied CCTV footage and told that people in the area are not “touts”.

Details emerged as one of the men charged with the murder was refused permission to live closer to the scene.

Jonathan Brown, 35, is among ten people facing prosecution in connection with the killing.

Mr Ogle, 45, was beaten and stabbed to death near his home at Cluan Place in January 2019.

The attack, which took place during a long-running feud, was said to have lasted for around 30 seconds.

Previous courts were told he is believed to have been targeted in response to an altercation earlier the same night.

A number of men arrived at the scene, allegedly launched the fatal assault and then fled.

Brown, previously of McArthur Court in Belfast, is currently on bail at an undisclosed location.

He was seeking to move to another address in the east of the city.

Opposing the application at Belfast Magistrates’ Court, an investigating detective claimed a general threat was made against those suspected of involvement in the killing.

“Police would be concerned... it may make things easier for whoever may wish him ill,” he said.

The court also heard about a recent allegation that Brown breached bail conditions by meeting a co-accused in east Belfast.

The detective said he went to the area in an attempt to locate any CCTV evidence to corroborate the claims, but faced problems due to ongoing tensions.

“The family of Ian Ogle feel they are under constant intimidation,” he said.

“The response to police being in the area was that we were constantly watched.”

He added: “Four locations I went to, two said the cameras were false when patently they weren’t.

“A fourth we could not gain entry to, a note was left and we subsequently received a telephone message which stated bluntly ‘You’re not getting the CCTV, we have to live in this area, we’re not touts’.”

Defence solicitor Mark Austin disputed any alleged breach of bail and insisted Brown is not facing any active threat.

He argued that the proposed new accommodation was still outside an exclusion zone.

“There are other people on bail in relation to this case living in the east Belfast area,” Mr Austin said.

However, District Judge Austin Kennedy ruled: “I don’t think a change of address is appropriate in the circumstances and, accordingly, I am refusing the application.”