Police murder suspect denied bail
A policeman’s family was relocated amid claims a teenager facing a murder charge was gathering intelligence for terrorists, the High Court has heard.
The claim was made as John Paul Wootton, 18, of Collingdale, Lurgan, County Armagh, was refused bail.
He is charged with murdering Constable Stephen Carroll, 48, at Lismore Manor, Craigavon in March.
It was also alleged cartridge discharge residue similar to that used in the shooting was found in his car.
Mr Wootton is also accused of possessing a firearm with intent to endanger life, collecting information likely to be of use to terrorists, and membership of the Continuity IRA.
Crown counsel said the victim was responding to a 999 report of a broken window when two shots were fired into his police car.
An initial post mortem has established he died from a single gunshot wound to the head.
The killing was admitted by the Continuity IRA.
According to the Crown, Mr Wootton – then aged 17 – was arrested the day after Constable Carroll was killed and held for nearly two weeks in Antrim. Throughout his detention period he refused to answer questions or co-operate, it was claimed.
The Crown said the investigation revealed that a Citroen Saxo car owned by the accused was parked 150 yards from the scene of the murder and driven off within minutes of the shots being fired.
Ammunition
“This was seen on CCTV (footage) and was put to the defendant during interview. The vehicle was seized by police and forensically examined,” the barrister told the court.
Clothing and a large quantity of cartridge discharge residue was discovered in the boot of the car. A top seized from Mr Wootton also contained some of the residue, it was alleged.
The barrister claimed it was consistent with the ammunition used to murder the police officer, although final test results are not expected until the end of the month.
The court heard that searches of the Saxo and an address linked to the accused revealed written and photographic material.
A notebook with references “supportive of the Continuity IRA” was discovered along with pictures allegedly showing Mr Wootton dressed in paramilitary uniform.
Crown counsel added: “Witness statements have been provided which state that the applicant is actively engaged in collecting information likely to be useful to a terrorist organisation.
“As a direct result a police officer and his family have had to be relocated.”
The court was also told that while in custody Mr Wootton has been embroidering handkerchiefs with the letters CIRA.
Opposing bail, the barrister claimed that if released he may remove or dispose of material still being sought by police.
She said a proposed bail address on the northern outskirts of Belfast was not suitable because he would be at risk if found to be living there.
Defence counsel argued that no attempt had been made to disguise or fit false plates to the Saxo, which was registered in his client’s name.
“It would be strange if a person involved in offences as suggested by the prosecution would leave himself open on such a basis,” he said.
The barrister rejected claims that Mr Wootton may flee if released by stressing the accused did not have a passport.
But refusing the bail application, Mr Justice Treacy pointed out that such documents would not be needed to cross the border.
The judge added: “If he is, as alleged, an active member of the Continuity IRA no doubt that organisation would be able to provide him with the necessary assistance and resources to make himself unavailable.
“I consider in his case the risk of flight must be quite serious.”
