A SOLDIER was remanded in custody last night accused of murdering a North-East guardsman on a Northern Ireland Army base.

Coldstream guard Dean Troy Eddy, 21, from Billingham, Teesside, was found shot dead at Shackleton Barracks in Ballykelly, County Londonderry, on Saturday night.

John Smith, a Green Howard, of Shackleton Barracks, is accused of shooting the guardsman following an incident shortly before 8.30pm. It is understood the two men were on guard duty.

The 24-year-old, who appeared in the dock wearing civilian clothing, spoke only once during the brief hearing at Londonderry magistrates court.

He answered "yes" when asked if he understood the charge against him.

Smith, who arrived at the hearing with a blanket over his head, was remanded in custody to appear at the same court via video link on September 29.

Guardsman Eddy is the second North-East soldier to be found dead at the Northern Ireland barracks in the past two years.

On January 24, 2001, Corporal Anthony Green, 25, of the Royal Scots Regiment, was shot in the head and died a day later.

Private William Graham, who was a member of the same regiment, was found guilty of his manslaughter at Belfast Crown Court in October and was sentenced to two years imprisonment.

Cpl Green's mother, Liz, of Consett, County Durham, said last night she had been shocked by the news that another soldier had been found dead.

She said: "It has just brought everything back. I was in complete shock when I heard."

Labour MP Kevin McNamara, a former Northern Ireland spokesman, is campaigning for a public inquiry into all non-combat deaths at UK Army bases, a move backed by The Northern Echo.

Cpl Green's death was the first case Mr McNamara became involved in and he has highlighted the case in the House of Commons.