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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Killer sought for war hero death | Killer sought for war hero death |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A former UVF supergrass and convicted killer is being sought by police for questioning about the murder of 92-year-old war hero Charles Stead. | A former UVF supergrass and convicted killer is being sought by police for questioning about the murder of 92-year-old war hero Charles Stead. |
| James Crockard, 56, who is believed to be in Spain, was jailed in 1983 for the murders of two Catholic men. He was released after serving eight years. | James Crockard, 56, who is believed to be in Spain, was jailed in 1983 for the murders of two Catholic men. He was released after serving eight years. |
| He has, however, been recalled to prison for breaching conditions of his licence. | He has, however, been recalled to prison for breaching conditions of his licence. |
| He said he will return to face claims that he murdered Mr Stead in 2007. | He said he will return to face claims that he murdered Mr Stead in 2007. |
| Crockard's lawyer, Joe Rice, said Crockard had indicated that he would be returning voluntarily from Spain in the near future to deal with any allegations in relation Mr Stead's murder. | |
| "He denies totally and absolutely any involvement in criminal activity including that murder since he has been released on prison licence, and now that it has been brought to his attention that his licence has been revoked by the Secretary of State in July this year, he wants to have an opportunity to deal with any alleged breaches as soon as possible," Mr Rice said. | |
| Life sentence | Life sentence |
| Mr Rice confirmed that he had received a letter on behalf of Mr Crockard from the Northern Ireland Office, which referred to the PSNI wanting to question his client about Mr Stead's murder and the allegation that he had broken off contact with a probation officer in February 2007. | Mr Rice confirmed that he had received a letter on behalf of Mr Crockard from the Northern Ireland Office, which referred to the PSNI wanting to question his client about Mr Stead's murder and the allegation that he had broken off contact with a probation officer in February 2007. |
| Crockard served eight years of a life sentence for the murders of Carl McParland and Gabriel Wiggins. | Crockard served eight years of a life sentence for the murders of Carl McParland and Gabriel Wiggins. |
| The NIO said he had been recalled to jail over concerns he had breached "the conditions of his licence". | The NIO said he had been recalled to jail over concerns he had breached "the conditions of his licence". |
| "Minister of State Paul Goggins, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State, has revoked the life licence of James Graham Crockard and recalled him to prison on his life sentences," an NIO spokesperson said. | "Minister of State Paul Goggins, acting on behalf of the Secretary of State, has revoked the life licence of James Graham Crockard and recalled him to prison on his life sentences," an NIO spokesperson said. |
| "It is with regard to concerns of him having breached the conditions of his licence and presenting an increased risk of harm to the public". | "It is with regard to concerns of him having breached the conditions of his licence and presenting an increased risk of harm to the public". |
| Crockard testified against 29 loyalists charged with more than 90 UVF-linked offences in the 1980s. | Crockard testified against 29 loyalists charged with more than 90 UVF-linked offences in the 1980s. |
| Gabriel Wiggins, 56, a father of 14 children, was shot dead in September 1979 when he answered a knock at the front door of his home in the Springfield Road area of Belfast. | Gabriel Wiggins, 56, a father of 14 children, was shot dead in September 1979 when he answered a knock at the front door of his home in the Springfield Road area of Belfast. |
| Carl McParland, 21, was killed by gunmen who walked into his sister's home at Leoville Street in the Clonard area of Belfast in April 1980. | Carl McParland, 21, was killed by gunmen who walked into his sister's home at Leoville Street in the Clonard area of Belfast in April 1980. |