Man charged over 1996 murder

A 42-year-old man was today charged with murdering a Catholic taxi-driver at the height of the Orange Order stand-off at Drumcree in 1996.

Clifford McKeown, whose address was given as Maghaberry Prison, Co Antrim, has denied murdering 31-year-old Michael McGoldrick between July 6 and 9, 1996.

The married father was found slumped over the wheel of his taxi with two bullets in the back of his head a day after he disappeared while answering a call.

Mr McGoldrick’s murder shocked the north as loyalist paramilitaries went on the rampage throughout the six counties after the Orange Order was banned from marching down the nationalist Garvaghy Rd in Portadown, Co Armagh.

An RUC officer told Craigavon Magistrates Court today that McKeown has insisted he is "totally innocent of the murder".

The defendant, who is currently on remand awaiting trial for a firearms charge, told the court today that the only evidence against him is that of a journalist.