Initially, Nadine Kelly (18), from Celandine Court in the Waterside area of the city, had been banned from visiting Gary Meenan (19), from Bishop Street, who is the father of their two years old child.

However, yesterday at the local Magistrates' Court, District Judge Barney McElholm over-ruled police objections and granted Ms. Kelly permission to visit the defendant Meenan.

Kelly, who is charged with intending to frustrate the police investigation into Mr. Shiels' murder by providing a false alibi for Meenan, is alleged to have told police that her partner was in her home at the exact time Mr. Shiels was shot dead at Bligh's Lane on June 24 last.

Applying for her to be allowed to visit her partner in the remand centre, defence solicitor Paddy MacDermott told the court that statements had already been made by the two defendants in relation to the charges they faced and it would be "totally stupid of them to try to concoct evidence" during their meetings in the centre.

"They have not seen each other for three months," he said.

"They have a family and they are anxious to be together as a family in a supervised situation whenever possible", he said.

However, a prosecution solicitor said police objected to Kelly being allowed to visit her partner in Hydebank on the basis that the visits would not be monitored and because their investigations into the murder were still continuing.

Granting the application, Mr. McElholm said that, while the integrity of the police investigation had to be preserved, he had to balance that with the defendant's rights under Human Rights legislation.