Former RUC officer murdered in Derry had been convicted of sectarian harassment

The PSNI continue to question a man arrested on suspicion of the murder of Brian Coulter, who was found dead at the property on Monday.

It has been reported a relative of Mr Coulter had visited his home disturbing an intruder who fled from the scene.

The man was later arrested in the Pound Road area of Magherafelt.

It has since been revealed Mr Coulter, who served in the RUC in the 80s, left the police after a friend and colleague, also an RUC officer, was killed in a bomb blast while covering a shift for Mr Coulter.

The murder is reported to have had a profound effect on Mr Coulter, who suffered from addiction in the time after his colleague’s death.

It has also emerged Mr Coulter admitted sectarian harassment against neighbours in 2016 after he arrived at a neighbour’s house and was abusive towards them.

The victims also received a postcard signed with Mr Coulter’s name, abusively demanding they take down their CCTV camera, and one of their garden ornaments was smashed.

He had also been convicted of charges for harassing an ex-partner in 2014 and for calling in hoax bomb alerts in Magherafelt and Cookstown in 2008.

It is understood Mr Coulter was also a regular victim of those engaging in antisocial behaviour in the area.

During one court appearance it was heard the deceased had a mental breakdown in 2015.