10 December 2010

Duffy To Stand Trial Over Massareene

A well-known Co Armagh republican, Colin Duffy and Magherafelt man Brian Shivers will go on trial early next year accused of murdering two soldiers in the Real IRA gun attack on Massareene army base in March 2009.

The prosecution said this week that evidence against the pair consists of DNA found on a number of items found in a partially burnt out car thought to have been used in the attack with a date for the trial now set for January 14, at Belfast Crown Court.

The case follows the murder of Royal Engineer sappers Mark Quinsey, 23, from Birmingham, and Patrick Azimkar, 21, from London.

They were shot dead as they collected pizzas from a take-away deliveryman at their barrack's gate, just hours ahead of deployment to Afghanistan.

The gun attacks also left four other people seriously injured, including two pizza deliverymen.

This week, 43-year-old Duffy of Forestglade, Lurgan and Shivers, 45, and from Sperrin Mews in Magherafelt were also accused of six attempted murders and possession of firearms and ammunition.

Mr Duffy has been remanded in custody while Mr Shivers remains on bail.

See: 'Abuse' Claim Delays Massereene Murder Trail

(BMcC/GK)