By Rosetta Donnelly
THE body of a former West Tyrone man may be exhumed as part of a police investigation into whether he had been drugged before being placed in a fume-filled car.
Detectives are probing the deaths of RUC officer, Trevor Buchanan, 31, and Lesley Howell, 30, who were initially thought to have died in a suicide pact at Castlerock in 1991.
Mr Buchanan's ex-partner, a former Omagh woman, was jointly charged with the murders this week. She said she will take her own life if she goes to prison.
As a result the judge granted bail of £15,000 to Hazel Stewart, 45, (formerly Elkin from Gillygooley, Omagh), while her co-accused, dentist Colin Howell, 50, of Sea Road, Castlerock, was remanded in custody for a week.
They were charged separately with the murders of their former partners Mr Buchanan, who was originally from Dromore, and Lesley Howell.
On May 19, 1991, Mr Buchanan and mother-of-four Lesley Howell were found dead in a car at a garage in Castlerock. At the time, a coroner's court ruled that both had committed suicide.
In a sensational twist to the story, the investigation was re-opened because the police had learned of new information.
The two accused appeared separately in court on Monday. Colin Howell was led in, handcuffed, and spoke only to confirm his name and that he understood the charges.
Hazel Stewart sat with her head down and cried as the charges were put to her. Her husband, a police officer, gave evidence supporting her bail application.
A police officer told the court he would object to her being released on bail because of concern for her safety and welfare. He said that she had made it clear that if she is presented with the opportunity she will take her own life.
Her solicitor told the court that if she was remanded in custody she would not receive the necessary support. He added that self harm and suicide incidents can happen in jail.
"Hydebank is hardly the most caring environment... It is fair to say (if released on bail) she will have the support of her husband and two children, aged 25 and 26, who will care for and love her.
"That must be a safer environment for this lady to be looked after. It is much more appropriate for her to be at home than in Hydebank. To describe Hydebank as a caring, loving environment would be untrue," he said.
Stewart's husband Dave Stewart, a former police officer, took to the witness box to tell the District Judge that he and her two children would be able to offer her better care and support at home.
"I have no doubt that Hazel will not do anything that will cause any difficulty for her children and me," he said.
Mr Stewart added that the accused's children are fully aware of the charges their mother faces and that their attitude towards her is "very supportive".
"They are there to help. She is their best friend," he said.
District Judge Wilson said he was prepared to accept the bail application and released her on bail totalling £15,000 and ordered her to reside at an address known to the police.
"I hope the defendant will be well looked after when she is released," he said.
Stewart was also ordered to surrender her passport and report to a police station daily and appear back before Coleraine Court next Monday.
The news of the charges has shocked the local community, especially in Omagh where the late Trevor Buchanan's family still live. He has been described as "one of life's gentlemen". The Buchanan family initially lived in Dromore but moved to Omagh some years ago.
