Republican remanded over murder of soldiers

Senior republican Colin Duffy appeared at Larne Magistrates’ Court this morning in Co Antrim charged with the murders of two …

Senior republican Colin Duffy appeared at Larne Magistrates’ Court this morning in Co Antrim charged with the murders of two soldiers shot dead by the Real IRA at Massereene army barracks.

He was remanded in custody and will next appear by video link at Antrim Magistrates’ Court on April 21st.

A police spokeswoman said Mr Duffy (41) from Lurgan, Co Armagh, was also charged with the attempted murder of five other people outside the Massereene Barracks in Antrim on March 7th and possession of a gun and ammunition.

Patrick Azimkar and Mark Quinsey were shot outside Massereene barracks, and several other men were injured in the attack.

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The Real IRA, a splinter group of the IRA, claimed responsibility for killing the soldiers.

Mr Duffy was one of six suspects held over the killings and whose lawyers challenged a court order granting detectives more time to quiz them.

All were set free from a police interrogation centre in Co Antrim, but PSNI officers later rearrested Mr Duffy.