A brother and sister appeared in court today in connection with the murder of a top loyalist paramilitary.
Mr Robert John Young (39), an unemployed bricklayer from Ulsterville Park, Portadown, Co Armagh, is accused of murdering Jim Johnston outside his home in Co Down earlier this month.
His sister, Ms Lorraine Nadine Young (37), of Church Hill in Holywood, Co Down, was charged with providing a false alibi in the form of a written witness statement to police even though she knew or believed that her brother murdered Johnston.
Both pleaded not guilty to the charges before Newtownards magistrates.
Mr Johnston (45) was a senior member of the Red Hand Commando group, an organisation closely linked to the Ulster Volunteer Force.
He had been warned by police before his murder that he may be under threat and was told to boost his personal security.