The Five Demands

Tracce del DNA di Brendan McConville su di un cappotto ritrovato nell’auto presumibilmente utilizzata dagli assassini di Stephen Carroll

L’udienza di martedì 8 settembre alla High Court, ha stabilito che esistono tracce di DNA che legano Brendan McConville, ex consigliere del Sinn Fein, all’omicidio dell’ufficiale di polizia Stephen Carroll, ucciso il 9 marzo scorso nell’area di Craigavon.
E’ stato reso noto che Brendan McConville è stato sottoposto a 32 interrogatori, durante i quali l’imputato ha affermato di essere amico dell’altro imputato John Paul Wootton e di essere salito regolarmente sulla sua Citroen Saxo. L’auto potrebbe essere stata utilizzata dagli attentatori. Era stata vista parcheggiata a 225 metri dal luogo del delitto ed è sfrecciata via dopo pochi istanti dagli spari.
Sul cappotto sono stati anche ritrovate particelle di polvere da sparo compatibili con i colpi esplosi. L’indumento è stato ritrovato a bordo della Citroen Saxo insieme ad altri oggetti.
L’avvocato difensore di Brendan McConville ha dichiarato che non esiste alcuna prova reale che leghi il suo assistito all’omicidio. Di contraria convinzione è sembrato il giudice McCloskey che, rifiutandosi di concedere la libertà su cauzione, ha ricordato come Stephen Carroll sia stato attirato in una trappola e giustiziato in un omicidio “terribile e ripugnante” dalla sedicente Continuity IRA.

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DNA links to policeman’s murder (U TV)
DNA evidence links a former Sinn Fein councillor to the murder of PSNI officer Stephen Carroll, the High Court heard on Tuesday.
Prosecutors said forensic tests had revealed Brendan McConville was the regular wearer of a coat found in a car police believe the killers used.
McConville, 38, is charged with the murder of Constable Carroll, who was ambushed and gunned down in Craigavon, Co Armagh.
The accused, of Glenholme Avenue, Lurgan was refused bail to ensure the public is exposed to no risk.
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He was arrested after Constable Carroll was shot in the head while responding to a 999 emergency call at Lismore Manor in March.
The assassination, just 48 hours after two soldiers were killed by the Real IRA at an army base in Antrim, was later claimed by the Continuity IRA.
Crown counsel David Russell said McConville – who represented Sinn Fein on Craigavon Borough Council but was later expelled from the party – was interviewed 32 times by police.
McConville also stated he was a friend of 18-year-old co-accused John Paul Wootton, of Collingdale, Lurgan, and was regularly in his Citroen Saxo.
Mr Russell confirmed the prosecution case that this car was used in the murder.
“The vehicle as parked 225 yards from the scene of the shooting and drove off within minutes of the shooting,” he said.
“The indication of the distance from where the shooting took place is a result of electronic monitoring.”
Evidence
Cartridge discharge residue was found in the car after its seizure, along with other items including a brown coat.
According to the barrister an examination of the jacket also discovered particles consistent with it being associated with the firing of the weapon.
Opposing bail, he expressed a fear of interference with witnesses in an area where the Continuity IRA was said to be particularly active.
Defence counsel Kieran Vaughan countered by claiming there was no real evidence to connect McConville to the murder.
He stressed that the case against his client hinged on the jacket found in the car boot, and argued that the residue discovered on it may not even have come from cartridge discharge.
The defence barrister revealed a £10,000 cash surety could be lodged in court, with McConville prepared to live at another address.
But refusing his bail application, Mr Justice McCloskey said victim had been lured into a trap and executed in an “appalling and abhorrent murder” by the self-styled Continuity IRA.