18/09/2009

Bail For Massereene Suspect

The man charged with the murders of two soldiers in March has been given bail at the High Court.

Brian Shivers, 44, 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.

Sappers Patrick Azimkar and Mark Quinsey were shot dead outside Massereene barracks in Antrim by the Real IRA.

Meanwhile, terror alerts continue in the North after a device - described as viable - was last night taken away for examination after it was uncovered in the Waterloo Park area of the Antrim Road in Belfast.

A PSNI spokesman said that initial inquiries suggested the object, described as a pipe bomb-type device, was left close to a house overnight. Police are working to establish a motive.

In a separate incident in Jordanstown, Co Antrim, a coffee-jar type device was removed for further examination after being found in a car at Rosstulla Drive.

Yesterday too, there was serious street violence following the sentencing of three Lurgan men convicted of plotting to kill police with a mortar bomb.

Several vehicles were hijacked and burnt out in an apparent attempt to lure police into predominantly republican areas of the town.

The PSNI also confirmed it had received reports of masked men wielding guns, however, it is not believed any shots were fired.

Commuters suffered disruption after two vans were set alight on a railway line, while drivers were advised to avoid the Kilwilkie, Drumbeg and Meadowbank estates.

Chief Inspector Jason Murphy said there was no evidence of petrol bombs being thrown at his officers, and no one had been hurt.

"This was clearly an attempt to draw my officers into the situation to escalate the violence and to cause serious disruption or injury," he said.

Mr Murphy added "robust action" would be taken by police to curb this "unacceptable behaviour".

Damien McKenna, 26, of Deans Walk, Gary Toman, 24, of Drumnahoe Avenue and Sean McConville, 23, of Kilwilkie Road, all pleaded guilty to planning a bomb attack on police.

Each of the men was handed down 15 year jail terms.

(BMcC/GK)

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