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Man bailed over soldier murders | Man bailed over soldier murders |
(40 minutes later) | |
A 44-year-old man charged with the murders of two soldiers in March has been given bail at the High Court. | A 44-year-old man charged with the murders of two soldiers in March has been given bail at the High Court. |
Brian Shivers, from Sperrin Mews in Magherafelt, is also charged with the attempted murder of six other people. | Brian Shivers, from Sperrin Mews in Magherafelt, is also charged with the attempted murder of six other people. |
Lawyers for the defendant, who suffers from cystic fibrosis, have argued that his health is seriously at risk. | Lawyers for the defendant, who suffers from cystic fibrosis, have argued that his health is seriously at risk. |
Sappers Patrick Azimkar and Mark Quinsey were shot dead outside Massereene barracks in Antrim by the Real IRA. | Sappers Patrick Azimkar and Mark Quinsey were shot dead outside Massereene barracks in Antrim by the Real IRA. |
On Friday, the accused was told that he would be released from prison for specialist treatment for his condition. | On Friday, the accused was told that he would be released from prison for specialist treatment for his condition. |
His lawyer Orlando Pownell QC argued that the prison authorities had not provided adequate medical treatment for what he described as a life-threatening illness. | |
It was claimed that he hadn't been given antibiotics that were crucial to controlling the disease, and that he'd ended up in hospital because of a deterioration of his condition. | |
The lawyer said Mr Shivers claimed he had been told he could not have the anitbiotics because it was a bank holiday. | |
And he said that his client had been given an apology by what he described as the "public health authority." | |
Crown lawyers conceded the prison authorities had made a mistake. | |
At a previous bail hearing, prison officials had also been ordered to a transcribe a CD-ROM of an expert witness who treated Mr Shivers, so that they could better provide for him. | |
It emerged that this hadn't happened. | |
Lord Justice Coughlan said it did appear an administrative mistake had exacerbated the defendant's condition. | |
He said that despite his concerns about the seriousness of the case and the risk of re-offending, he was prepared to grant bail. |