Man found dead with his girlfriend had jumped bail in North

The man found dead with his girlfriend in a car at a Co Leitrim beauty spot on Tuesday had been on the run from the authorities…

The man found dead with his girlfriend in a car at a Co Leitrim beauty spot on Tuesday had been on the run from the authorities in the North.

Mr Brett Buckland, with an address in Irvinestown, Co Fermanagh, jumped bail in July and a bench warrant had been issued for his arrest.

Mr Buckland, originally from Britain, had been charged with threatening to kill a man and to destroy a house. He also faced charges relating to assaulting and resisting police.

It is understood the charges related to a domestic dispute.

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Mr Buckland's girlfriend has been identified as Ms Joanne McCusker (21), also from Irvinestown. Ms McCusker's parents are understood to have been abroad on holiday at the time of her death.

Mr Buckland and Ms McCusker had been seen on a number of occasions recently in the vicinity of Glenfarne Demesne, a scenic woodland area overlooking Lough Macnean, close to the Fermanagh Border.

The bodies were discovered side-by-side in the car early on Tuesday morning by a farmer out inspecting his stock.

The couple were pronounced dead by a local doctor some time later.

The bodies were in the car for a number of days.

Gardaí said the couple had been sighted in the area last Friday.

Foul play was not suspected.

Martin Wall

Martin Wall

Martin Wall is the Public Policy Correspondent of The Irish Times.