A stonemason from Dromore in Armargh, Northern Ireland, has been charged with the murders of two women five years apart. Leslie Ross, 66, was remanded in custody after bail was refused by a district judge on 23 August. Mr Ross will be back in court next month (September).

He is accused of murdering 47-year-old Michelle Bickerstaff, who was found dead in April 2012, and Margaret Weise, 50, who died in August 2007. Mr Ross was also charged with indecent assault, gross indecency with a child and indecently assaulting a female child.

He did not speak in court but his solicitor, Conleth Downey, told reporters outside the court that his client would be denying all the charges.

"In essence, Mr Ross has indicated that he categorically and vehemently denies all allegations of wrong-doing, that has been pointed out to the court this morning, and at the earliest opportunity he will robustly defend all these matters," he said.

No application for bail was made, although the lawyer said they would be applying for bail at a later stage.

The police say a file surrounding the circumstances of a third woman's death a decade ago has been forwarded to the Public Prosecution Service.