A General Dental Council statement said: ‘The hearing was held in private following a joint application amid concerns publicity could prejudice the interests of justice. The Interim Orders Committee (IOC) can suspend or impose conditions on a dental professional where there is a need to protect the public, the public interest or the registrant themselves, pending the outcome of a case public hearing by one of the three practice committees. The IOC does not make any decision over the allegations which the professional may face. We will not comment further at this stage as court proceedings and a police investigation are ongoing.’

Father-of-ten Dr Howell and his former lover Hazel Stewart, 45, are accused of murdering his wife Lesley, 31, and Mrs Stewart’s first husband Trevor Buchanan, 32, whose bodies were found in car filled with exhaust fumes in Castlerock in May 1991. Both are due back in court again on March 30.

Dr Howell is also charged with drugging and indecently assaulting a number of women over a 10-year period up until December 2008. It is understood his financial affairs are also under investigation as part of the double-murder inquiry.