Republican 'linked to soldiers' murders by DNA'

DNA evidence links prominent republican Colin Duffy to the murder of two soldiers by the Real IRA outside an Army base in the North earlier this month, a court was told today.

Duffy was remanded in custody charged with the murders of Sappers Mark Quinsey, 23, of Birmingham, and Patrick Azimkar, 21, of London, who were shot dead at the gates of Massereene Barracks on Saturday, March 7 while they collected pizzas from delivery men.

The District Judge at Larne Magistrates’ Court said Duffy should reappear via video link at Antrim Magistrates’ Court on April 21.

The republican, from Lurgan, Co Armagh, was also charged with five counts of attempted murder – of three soldiers and two delivery men – and possession of arms and ammunition with intent.

Duffy appeared in the dock handcuffed to a police officer and more than half a dozen armed police stood around the small courtroom.

High-level security was also in place outside the court and on roads throughout the seaside town.

Detective Chief Inspector Jeffrey Smyth told the court that DNA evidence found in the car used by the killers in their getaway linked Duffy to the killings.

He said: “This is not trace elements – this is a full DNA profile.

“It was inside a latex glove found on the floor of the Vauxhall Cavalier.”

He conceded later that only the tip of the glove had been found.

Mr Smyth said the DNA profile was the only forensic evidence which has so far connected Duffy to the shootings but added: ``There are over 1,000 exhibits in this case.''

He said exhibits were being examined in both the North and in England but other results had so far come back negative.

Objecting to bail he said there were three main planks of the prosecution case - forensics, CCTV and witness evidence.

He said a witness could place the getaway car outside the barracks in the seconds before the attack.

Questioned by barrister Mark Mulholland, acting for Duffy, the detective said he objected to bail on the grounds that Duffy may reoffend, interfere with witnesses or abscond because of the potentially lengthy sentence he faced if found guilty.

He confirmed that Duffy had remained silent during interview except to deny involvement in the crime.

Mr Smyth said in his objection to bail: “These are very serious matters. If convicted he stands to be given a very substantial tariff which may serve as an inducement to abscond.

“If given bail there is a strong likelihood he may reoffend or interfere with witnesses.”

Mr Mulholland argued that District Judge Robert Alcorn should grant bail on the grounds that Mr Smyth had not given sufficient basis for it to be denied and remand in custody would be a contravention of Duffy’s human rights.

The judge said he was not persuaded to grant bail even under the most stringent conditions.

He remanded Duffy in custody to reappear at Antrim Magistrates’ Court on April 21 by video link.

As he was led from the dock there were cheers and a round of applause from more than two dozen supporters, mainly women, sitting in the public gallery.

There were further cheers and minor scuffles with police outside the court as Duffy was driven away from the building in the back of a Volkswagen Passat estate with blacked out rear windows.