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Man in court over soldier murders | Man in court over soldier murders |
(about 1 hour later) | |
A 44-year-old man has appeared in court in Ballymena charged with the murders of two soldiers and the attempted murder of six other people. | A 44-year-old man has appeared in court in Ballymena charged with the murders of two soldiers and the attempted murder of six other people. |
Brian Shivers, from Maghera, was also charged with firearms offences. | Brian Shivers, from Maghera, was also charged with firearms offences. |
Sappers Mark Quinsey, 23, from Birmingham, and Patrick Azimkar, 21, from London, were shot dead at Massereene Army base, Antrim, in March. | Sappers Mark Quinsey, 23, from Birmingham, and Patrick Azimkar, 21, from London, were shot dead at Massereene Army base, Antrim, in March. |
Police have said they fear another man being sought over the murders may have left Northern Ireland. | Police have said they fear another man being sought over the murders may have left Northern Ireland. |
"We have previously tried to arrest another suspect in this investigation, but have been unsuccessful, and we have reason to believe he has fled the jurisdiction," Detective Inspector Justin Galloway said. | "We have previously tried to arrest another suspect in this investigation, but have been unsuccessful, and we have reason to believe he has fled the jurisdiction," Detective Inspector Justin Galloway said. |
Mr Shivers, who is also accused of possession of firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life, was refused bail and remanded in custody. | Mr Shivers, who is also accused of possession of firearms and ammunition with intent to endanger life, was refused bail and remanded in custody. |
Ballymena Magistrates Court was told CCTV cameras recorded pictures of two masked gunmen firing 60 rounds of ammunition during the attack. | Ballymena Magistrates Court was told CCTV cameras recorded pictures of two masked gunmen firing 60 rounds of ammunition during the attack. |
Detective Inspector Galloway told the court there was DNA evidence linking Mr Shivers to the alleged getaway car. | Detective Inspector Galloway told the court there was DNA evidence linking Mr Shivers to the alleged getaway car. |
He said it had been discovered on a mobile phone and on items found inside and outside the vehicle. | He said it had been discovered on a mobile phone and on items found inside and outside the vehicle. |
A defence solicitor questioned the validity of the evidence and said they were just partial matches. | A defence solicitor questioned the validity of the evidence and said they were just partial matches. |
Sappers Patrick Azimkar and Mark Quinsey died in the Real IRA attack | |
However, Magistrate Phillip Mateer said while the merits of low-copy DNA had been debated during the trial of Omagh bomb suspect Sean Hoey, the court still accepted it as evidence. | However, Magistrate Phillip Mateer said while the merits of low-copy DNA had been debated during the trial of Omagh bomb suspect Sean Hoey, the court still accepted it as evidence. |
The soldiers were killed by the Real IRA outside the barracks as they collected pizzas they had earlier ordered. | The soldiers were killed by the Real IRA outside the barracks as they collected pizzas they had earlier ordered. |
Two gunmen in a car parked nearby opened fire with semi-automatic rifles. | Two gunmen in a car parked nearby opened fire with semi-automatic rifles. |
Four other people were seriously injured, including the pizza delivery men. | Four other people were seriously injured, including the pizza delivery men. |
Prominent dissident republican Colin Duffy is the only other person to have been charged with the murders. | Prominent dissident republican Colin Duffy is the only other person to have been charged with the murders. |