Duffy says Massereene DNA ‘planted’
High-profile Republican Colin Duffy has claimed that his DNA was planted in the getaway car used in the Massereene murders.
The 44-year-old, who was acquitted of killing two soldiers at the Co Antrim army base, spoke to the press in west Belfast on Saturday.
“I am firmly of the view that my DNA arose there because it was planted,” he said, adding: “I was never in that car.
“I state quite categorically here that I had no involvement in what happened at Massereene, no involvement whatsoever, and that has been vindicated in court because there was no credible evidence to suggest otherwise.”
Mark Quinsey, 23, and Patrick Azimkar, 21, were gunned down as they collected a pizza delivery outside Massereene barracks on 7 March 2009.
Mr Duffy, from Lurgan, was freed from custody on Friday after a judge said prosecutors had failed to prove he was directly involved in the attack.
His co-accused, Brian Shivers, from Magherafelt, was found guilty and was jailed for life, after being linked to the murder of the sappers by DNA found on a mobile phone and matchsticks connected to the getaway car.
Duffy’s DNA was found on a seatbelt buckle in the same car and on a latex glove tip, which was also discovered in the car.
“I consider that there is insufficient evidence to satisfy me beyond reasonable doubt that, whatever Duffy may have done when he wore the latex glove or touched the seatbelt buckle, meant that he was preparing the car in some way for this murderous attack,” the judge said on Friday, sitting in his last trial before retiring.
“And I therefore find him not guilty.”
Duffy, sporting the long beard he has grown during his time on a no-wash protest while being held on remand in Maghaberry prison, was later hustled into a waiting car in a bid to avoid loyalist protesters gathered outside the court complex.
He made no immediate comment to reporters asking for his reaction to the not guilty verdict.
It is the third time in the last two decades that Duffy has been cleared of murdering security force members.
