A MAN charged with the murder of a two-year-old in Dungannon last week has been refused bail.

Appearing at Omagh Magistrates Court via videolink today, Tuesday, Darren John Armstrong (32), with an address of Ashbeg Grove, Dungannon, was charged with the murder of Ali Jayden Doyle on August 6, and also perverting the course of justice.

The mother of the two-year-old, Jade Dempsey (24), of Sycamore Drive, Dungannon, also appeared via videolink to face charges of perverting the course of justice and causing the death of a child as a result of an unlawful act.

A police officer told the court he could connect the two accused to the charges before them.

The court heard shortly after 11am last Friday, the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) received a call out to a house in Dungannon to an unconscious child.

Upon arrival, they found Ali unresponsive and she was taken to the Royal Victoria Hospital (RVH), Belfast.

The officer said the account given was Ali was hit over the head with a toy by her one-year-old sibling, fell back and hit her head on the hearth.

Ali succumbed to her injuries at RVH, and Armstrong, who previously resided in Enniskillen, was arrested for murder.

The account given to police about the events surrounding the death were that Dempsey had gone to Armstrong's house to return a bank card, but on the way one the children had lost a dummy and she went back to retrieve it.

It was at this time she received a call from Armstrong to say Ali had been hurt.

However, the court heard investigations by police gathered communications from the previous night, and it was revealed that Dempsey planned to travel to Belfast to buy a buggy for the children and would be leaving them with Armstrong.

The officer told the court that the children were placed on the Child Protection Register in April due to the relationship between Dempsey and Armstrong, and Social Services did not want any contact between the children and Armstrong.

A witness statement described Ali as being "alert" and "in good spirits", with a video sent at 10.45am showing her sitting up watching tv.

A text from Armstrong to Dempsey read that the child was "seriously melting" his head and would not stop crying.

An outgoing call to Dempsey, which police believe was to inform her of the injury, was made shortly after, and then a call to paramedics.

A post-mortem carried out said the injuries were more likely to be non-accidental and the pathologist had never seen the level of injury from an accidental fall. They were unable to say how many times the head had been impacted.

One witness close to the house told police she heard a continuous scream two to three times before it stopped.

Police objected to bail for both Armstrong and Dempsey, believing they were a flight risk, and that Armstrong may re-offend or interfere with witnesses.

Armstrong's solicitor, Michael Fahy, argued that his client had given a detailed account which he maintained throughout the four days of questioning.

Mr. Fahy asked the officer if the case was largely circumstantial, to which the officer replied that evidence suggested Ali had been fit and well minutes before entering the home, and within a 15-minute window suffered "catastrophic injuries".

Mr. Fahy added that his client had called the emergency services and followed their instructions until paramedics arrived.

James Strawbridge, representing Dempsey, said his client had been a prosecution witness until the discrepancy in accounts was clarified.

Mr. Strawbridge added Dempsey was a victim in the case and a young, grieving mother.

District Judge Bernie Kelly did not consider either accused suitable for bail. She said Dempsey was a flight risk, while Armstrong had a litany of entries on his record for breach of court orders.

Judge Kelly said she entertained no confidence they would adhere to any bail conditions imposed.

Armstrong and Dempsey were remanded in custody to appear again on September 1.