Clutching a photo of her murdered husband, Ellie Ward said that his loss was a “pain that will never go away” for her family.

Mrs. Ward was speaking outside Dungannon Magistrates Court yesterday morning following the appearance of a 33-year-old woman and 23-year-old man charged with the murder of her husband, Pat Ward, last weekend.

Mr. Ward was found in an alleyway in McCrea Park just after 8am on Saturday, February 9.

Karen McDonald and Niall Cox, both with addresses of McCrea Park, Clogher, appeared in the dock where friends and family of the murdered man shouted as the defendants were led into the court.

Shouts of “you b*****d” and “murderous scumbag” were heard as District Judge John Meehan said he would “clear the court” stating that there “would be no breaches of the peace here”.

A police officer took the stand to connect the pair to the charges. Cox and McDonald were asked did they understand the charges to which they both replied “yes”.

11 uniformed officers and others in civilian clothes formed a barrier between the public gallery and the dock with upwards of 30 friends and family of the murdered man in the court.

The defendants were remanded in custody to appear via video link in four weeks’ time, March 13.

Defending solicitors stated that bail would be applied for on the next appearance subject to suitable addresses being found.

Cox appeared in a grey jumper and grey pair of tracksuit bottoms and at various times during the hearing glanced back at the gallery.

McDonald wore a black t-shirt with a beige v-neck jumper over it and stared straight ahead throughout proceedings.

When Cox and McDonald were led from the court there was applause from the public gallery with more shouts of “murderous scumbags” and “tramps” heard.

Mr. Meehan cleared the court at this point.

Outside the courthouse the murdered man’s wife spoke to reporters holding up a picture of her dead husband.

“Look what has been taken away from me, from me and my four kids,” Ellie Ward said, adding:

“This is a pain that will never go away.”

Images of Mr. Ward’s dead body have been circulated on social media and a family member said:

“That’s their dad, and it is very sad that people are taking pictures and putting them on social media. They should be brought to court also.”

Mrs. Ward added: “At the end of the day my kids don’t deserve to see their dad like that.”

When asked had the family a message for those posting and sharing the images: “Delete them off Facebook and the person who took them should be brought to court also,” a lady flanking Mrs. Ward said. The same lady said that one of the murdered man’s sons had seen images of their dad on youtube and that “it wasn’t fair on the kids”.

“No-body should be murdered in this world,” a man said, before the family of Mr. Ward dispersed.