Mother Accused of Belfast Murder Scene Clean-Up Denied Bail Request
A mother charged with allegedly assisting her son in cleaning up a murder scene has been refused bail in a high-profile Belfast case. Suzanne Love, a 45-year-old from East Belfast, Northern Ireland, remains on remand at Hydebank Wood Women's Prison, facing serious allegations of perverting the course of justice and assisting offenders.
Details of the Alleged Offences and Court Proceedings
The charges stem from accusations that Suzanne Love helped clear evidence following the brutal death of Kathryn Parton, a 34-year-old woman known as Kat. Ms Parton was found deceased in the bedroom of her Madrid Street home in Belfast almost a week after she is believed to have been killed on May 9, 2024. A postmortem examination revealed she died from haemorrhaging, lacerations to the scalp, and nasal fractures resulting from a sustained assault to the head that involved no weapons.
Detectives investigating the case believe Ms Parton lay undiscovered for six days until her father visited the property amid growing concerns for her wellbeing. The defendant's 26-year-old son, Jamie Love, has been charged with carrying out the alleged murder at the Madrid Street address.
Compassionate Bail Application and Prosecution Opposition
During a hearing at Belfast Crown Court, defence solicitor Philip Breen made an unusual compassionate bail application on behalf of Suzanne Love. He stated that his client wished to be released from Hydebank prison for just a few hours to collect personal items, including photographs and clothing, from her former Isoline Street home, which is currently being repossessed by the Housing Executive.
Mr Breen explained to the court: "She has not been in the property for some time now and the Housing Executive say they will not remove any items which are damp or have mould on them. We suspect that the items she wants to retrieve are the type of items the Housing Executive will not remove. We don't know what condition these items will be in so that is why she wants to be released for just a few hours to collect them."
The defence solicitor emphasised that his client had been in custody for 18 months and argued she posed no threat to anyone, suggesting there was no reason she would not return to prison after collecting her belongings.
Prosecution's Strong Opposition to Bail Release
Prosecution counsel Rosemary Walsh KC firmly opposed the bail application on multiple grounds. She informed Madam Justice McBride that similar applications had been made twice previously in the past year and had been rejected.
Ms Walsh outlined the prosecution's position: "In response to those previous applications we stated that other family members or friends could be asked to retrieve these photographs and clothing. These are not large, onerous items. The applicant has another son who is not connected to these proceedings and we can't understand why he can't be asked."
The prosecution counsel presented compelling evidence connecting Suzanne Love to the case, noting that her footprint, made with blood belonging to the deceased, was found at the scene. Furthermore, she allegedly assisted her son in moving his property from the house and helped him stay away from Belfast in various bed and breakfast accommodations following the incident.
Ms Walsh expressed significant concerns about potential risks, stating: "There is a concern in terms of her behaviour. There are concerns that she may not return to custody and could potentially contact civilian witnesses. It is not a proper compassionate bail application and the applicant has not taken any steps to demonstrate that she has asked other people to retrieve these items from her property."
Third Accused and Judicial Decision
The court also heard details about a third individual charged in connection with the case. Reece Oliver, a 23-year-old from Castleton Gardens in Belfast, faces charges of assisting an offender. According to court proceedings, he drove Suzanne Love to the Madrid Street property to help her son pack up and move out on the night Ms Parton is believed to have been killed.
In delivering her judgment, Madam Justice McBride refused the bail application, stating she could see no compelling reason why family relatives or friends could not collect the photographs and clothing from the defendant's former home. The judge highlighted additional concerns about the risk of reoffending and the possibility that Suzanne Love might not surrender to her bail if released.
This decision means Suzanne Love will remain in custody as legal proceedings continue in this complex and tragic case that has gripped the Belfast community since Kathryn Parton's death nearly two years ago.
