PSNI 'alerted before grudge killing'

Police in the North were alerted the night before a loyalist paramilitary assassin carried out a grudge killing, an inquest heard today.

A detective also confirmed a car used in the murder of William “Wassy” Paul was stopped by officers hours before the shooting.

Paul, 49, was gunned down at point blank range outside his home in Bangor, Co Down in July 1998.

Notorious terrorist Frankie Curry confessed to the killing, along with up to 18 others, days before his own violent death less than a year later.

The two men had been locked in a bitter feud since Curry allegedly drove a car at Paul’s brother, then warned him to drop charges before wounding him in a shooting, Belfast Coroner’s Court was told.

Paul’s widow, Sarah, told the hearing how the hatred intensified when she saw her husband batter his enemy after chasing him through Bangor.

“Wassy trailed Frankie Curry around and headbutted him,” she said.

“I heard Wassy tell him if he ever went near his family again he would beat him to death. He wouldn’t need a gun.”

Following the confrontation with 46-year-old Curry – who had links to various shadowy loyalist outfits – Paul received a series of death threats, the inquest was told.

He met with loyalist paramilitary representatives who assured him their organisations were not involved.

Even though security cameras were fitted at his Glastry Gardens home to increase protection, Paul was shot three times as he returned from getting his morning newspapers.

His widow recalled looking out to see the gunman, masked in a red, white and blue balaclava, before he got into a waiting Ford Orion car.

She immediately knew from his distinctive, sloping run that it was Curry, the inquest heard.

“I saw Wassy lying on the side of the square. His two papers were lying beside him,” she said.

“I knelt down beside him, I knew he was dead and I lay over him.

“Everything went into slow motion and I started screaming ’Frankie Curry shot my husband’.”

Questioned by her lawyer Philip Henry, Mrs Paul confirmed that she believed the man driving the Orion, which was later found burnt out, was Thomas Maginnis.

Maginnis, 44, was later charged with murdering Paul and three others, after being secretly recorded admitting the crimes to police officers.

But he was later freed after a judge ruled the confessions were inadmissible.

The loyalist, from Newtownards, Co Down, and said to have an IQ of 67, is now believed to be living at an unknown location outside the North.

Mrs Paul told the hearing how his girlfriend at the time, Sonia Adams, contacted her after her husband’s murder to say she had been in touch with police the night before the shooting.

“She said that she told him Frankie Curry and Thomas Maginnis had been in her house.

“She said they were about to carry out a murder.”

Questioned about any tip-offs, Detective Chief Inspector Jeff Smyth spoke of the risk to witnesses if he was to reveal what information was passed to police.

But it was confirmed that Ms Adams made a statement and contacted police the night before the shooting.

The officer also told the hearing: “I do believe the vehicle (Ford Orion) was stopped by police in the Newtownards sub-division at that time.”

He agreed with Mr Henry’s assessment that the car was then allowed to drive on.

However, it is understood that the vehicle check was for motoring matters. No suggestion was made either that either of the men linked to Paul’s shooting were inside.

Coroner John Leckey interrupted Mr Henry when he asked whether the detective believed the murder could have been prevented if different actions had been taken.

“It’s impossible for the Chief Inspector to answer that,” Mr Leckey said.

“Would that not be a matter for the Police Ombudsman to examine.”