Man appears in court charged with murd£r of pregnant mother

A man has appeared in court charged with the murd£r of a pregnant mother-of-two.

Sarah Montgomery, 27, who was heavily pregnant with her third child, was found seriously injured inside her home in Donaghadee, County Down, on Saturday before being pronounced de@d.

Zak Hughes, 28, from Ardglen Place in north Belfast, is also charged with child destruction.

He stood in the dock at Newtownards Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, where a detective chief inspector told the court he could connect the accused to the charges.

District Judge Conor Heaney confirmed the case would come before the court again on 30 July.

Officers were called to the home at 2.15pm after receiving reports of an unconscious female with a serious injury.

Paramedics were unable to save her, and she was pronounced de@d at the scene.

Revd Ian R Gamble and Revd Kathy Couchman of Donaghadee Parish Church, who had a ‘strong connection’ with the family, said they were ‘deeply saddened’, adding that they would miss her at their Mums & Tots group.

The church statement said: ‘The tragic nature of Sarah’s de@th, compounded with the loss of her unborn child, can only add to the immense sense of grief that her family and friends will be feeling.

‘Sarah was a very loving daughter to her late parents, a caring and devoted mother to her own children, and a great support to her brothers and elderly grandparents.

‘May God grant to Sarah’s family, close friends and our Donaghadee community his unfailing love.’

And the fundraiser, which was organised by ‘local girl’ Joanne Courtney, said that ‘The events of this weekend have brought the community and indeed a wider circle to its devastated knees.’

She continued: ‘The children adored their mummy but have now been robbed of the nurture and love to guide them as they grow into young women.

‘They will never get to know their unborn baby brother, whose life was also cut short in this tragic incident.’

Ms Montgomery is the 27th woman to allegedly be killed in Northern Ireland since 2020.

Last week, Detective Chief Inspector Tom Phillips said: ‘Police received a report at approximately 2.15pm on Saturday afternoon, 28th June of an unconscious woman with a serious injury inside a house in the Elmfield Walk area of the town.

Source: LIB