Dog walker may hold clues to soldier murders

Detectives investigating the murder of two soldiers at an army base in the North were today searching for a witness they believe may hold vital clues.

Sappers Mark Quinsey, 23, from Birmingham, and Patrick Azimkar, 21, from London, were shot dead by dissident republicans outside the Massereene barracks in Antrim last month.

Now police believe a man walking a dog near the scene in the aftermath of the Real IRA attack may be able to help police catch the killers.

Police said the man, in his 50s, was wearing a navy blue waterproof coat, and was walking a small grey and white dog.

He was seen in the area of Coral Crescent, adjacent to the Randalstown Road where the barracks is situated.

The man was seen at 9.40pm on Saturday March 7, just after the shootings took place.

Gunmen from the Real IRA – a dissident republican group opposed to the peace process – opened fire on the soldiers as they collected pizza from delivery men at the gates of the barracks.

Two delivery men were injured in the attack, as were three other people, including two soldiers.

Police have asked the man seen walking he dog, or anyone who thinks they might recognise his description, to contact the incident room at 02894 481641.

Two days after the murder of the two soldiers, Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) officer Stephen Carroll, 48, was shot dead by a separate dissident group, the Continuity IRA, in Craigavon, Co Armagh.

Prominent republican Colin Duffy has been charged with the murders of the two soldiers.

The 41-year-old, from Lurgan, Co Armagh, also faces five counts of attempted murder and one count of possession of a firearm.

A 17-year-old youth and a 37-year-old man have been charged with the murder of PC Carroll.

A 21-year-old man has been accused of withholding information in relation to the policeman’s murder.