The 42-year-old Donegal man to stand trial later this year on a charge of murdering his wife during a boat trip in Co. Fermanagh, has had his bail varied to allow him to return home, and also to allow him to enter Strabane for "legal consultations".

Belfast Crown Court heard that Stephen McKinney, who has surrendered his passport and is not permitted to travel outside Northern Ireland as part of his bail conditions, was worried about his home and wanted to check on the house just over the border on the outskirts of Lifford.

Mr. Justice Colton varied his bail to allow him to leave the jurisdiction. He also gave leave for him, upon giving police at least 24 hours notice, to enter the Co. Tyrone border town of Strabane to visit the offices of his solicitors.

McKinney is charged and denies, murdering his 35-year-old wife Lu Na, whose body was recovered from water near Devenish Island on Lower Lough Erne during a boating holiday between April 11 and 14, 2017.

When McKinney, now with an address in Castletown Square, in Fintona, was returned for trial at Belfast Crown Court last month, his bail was varied then to allow him to enter Strabane to visit his wife's grave on the anniversary of her death.