A murder suspect was himself murdered in his Maze Prison cell because of admissions he made to the police, the High Court in Belfast was told yesterday.
Mr David Keys (23), from Highfield Gardens, Banbridge, Co Down, was found hanging from the bars of his cell in the LVF wing in March, 1998.
Just four days earlier he and three others were remanded to the prison accused of murdering Mr Phillip Allen and Mr Daniel Trainor in a bar in Poyntzpass, Co Armagh.
Two men accused of murdering Mr Keys - Mr Robin King (33), and Mr Ralph Phillips (35), whose addresses were given as the Maze Prison - applied for bail yesterday before Mr Justice Coghlin.
A Crown lawyer said Mr Keys had been strangled and marks on his body showed that he had been beaten before death. His wrists were also cut but this had been done after his death.
The lawyer said all 32 prisoners in the LVF wing were interviewed by police but no one was charged. Subsequently Mr King and Mr Phillips were charged after another prisoner made a statement to police.
"Police believe he was murdered as a direct result of his perceived admissions and he had been transferred for his own safety," said the lawyer.
A defence lawyer said it had information that the prisoner who implicated Mr King and Mr Phillips had a substantial psychiatric background.
"We are concerned that the Crown are placing so much reliance on this man whose evidence may not be acceptable by a court because it is not of the requisite standard," said the lawyer.
Refusing to grant bail, Mr Justice Coghlin said the murder was "appalling".