Police 'know identity of army base bombers'

Police in the North believe they have identified the bomb team which killed a workman at a territorial army base in Northern Ireland a year ago, it was disclosed today.

But even though eight suspects have been questioned, detectives have been unable to get enough evidence to press charges.

Construction worker David Caldwell, 51, a Protestant, died when he picked up a booby-trapped lunchbox which exploded in his hands.

The killers belonged to the Real IRA, the same dissident republican organisation which bombed Omagh in August 1998 killing 29 people, including a woman with unborn twins.

Detective Inspector Robbie Paul disclosed how close police were to charging the killers who struck at a TA base in Derry on August 1, 2002.

The device, he said could have killed anyone. Mr Caldwell was involved in building work at the base.

Inspector Paul said: “We believe we have an accurate intelligence picture of the group of people involved in carrying out the murder but we can’t go to court with intelligence alone. We need firm evidence.

“I’m fairly sure we know the group of people involved.” The detective said the members of the gang could have carried out other attacks since the murder.

“I have no doubt that they are committed members of a terrorist organisation and could be involved in other terrorist crimes.”

The gang used wire cutters to break through a perimeter fence of the base on the Limavady Road in the city and abandoned the bomb.

Inspector Paul added: “We believe David was not the specific target, this device was left for the first person who picked it up and it could have killed any of the mixed workforce.

“He was a decent hardworking man respected by his employers and a totally innocent victim of an organisation who have no role in a civilised society.”

East Derry MP Gregory Campbell said: “If the police are saying they know who is responsible but don’t have the necessary forensic evidence to bring them to justice, then this is a serious indictment on our system of justice.

“Here we are a year later and the people who carried out this atrocity are still walking about free.”