Republican not standing in European election

A prominent republican charged with the murder of two British soldiers in the North will not be standing in the European elections, his family said.

The announcement ended intense speculation that Colin Duffy, 41, would be putting his name forward for June’s poll.

Duffy from Lurgan, Co Armagh, is on remand in prison charged with shooting dead the two soldiers outside Massereene army barracks in Antrim in March. He is also charged with five counts of attempted murder.

At a public meeting in his home town last night, members of his family said they did not have enough time or resources to mount an effective election campaign.