IDENTITY OF BASE BOMBERS KNOWN TO POLICE
Identity of base bombers 'known to police'
By GARY KELLY and IAN STARRETT
POLICE believe they have identified the bomb team which killed a workman at a territorial army base in Northern Ireland a year ago, it was disclosed yesterday.
But even though eight suspects have been questioned, detectives have been unable to get enough evidence to press charges.
Construction worker David Caldwell, 51, a Protestant from Eglinton, died when he picked up a booby-trapped lunchbox which exploded in his hands.
The killers belonged to the Real IRA, the same dissident republican organisation which bombed Omagh in August 1998 killing 29 people, including a woman with unborn twins.
Detective Inspector Robbie Paul disclosed how close police were to charging the killers who struck at a TA base in Londonderry, on August 1, 2002.
Inspector Paul said: "We believe we have an accurate intelligence picture of the group of people involved in carrying out the murder but we can't go to court with intelligence alone. We need firm evidence. I'm fairly sure we know the group of people involved."
The detective said the members of the gang could have carried out other attacks since the murder.
"I have no doubt that they are committed members of a terrorist organisation and could be involved in other terrorist crimes."
Police this week mounted road checks in the area of the TA camp where the gang used wire-cutters to break through a perimeter fence and abandoned the bomb.
Inspector Paul added: "We believe David was not the specific target, this device was left for the first person who picked it up and it could have killed any of the mixed workforce.
"David's death has devastated his family, who are still living with the horror of the 1st August 2002.
"He was a decent, hardworking man respected by his employers and a totally innocent victim of an organisation who have no role in a civilised society."
Appealing for any information, however small, that would help the inquiry team, the inspector added: "The detectives need public support to solve this brutal murder and they are urging the community to give information to the police.
"Someone must know who planned and carried out this atrocity. I appeal to the consciences of those people and would ask them to consider how they would feel if a member of their family was murdered in such a cruel way."
East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell said: "If the police are saying they know who is responsible but don't have the necessary forensic evidence to bring them to justice, then this is a serious indictment on our system of justice.
"Here we are a year later and the people who carried out this atrocity are still walking about free."
By GARY KELLY and IAN STARRETT
POLICE believe they have identified the bomb team which killed a workman at a territorial army base in Northern Ireland a year ago, it was disclosed yesterday.
But even though eight suspects have been questioned, detectives have been unable to get enough evidence to press charges.
Construction worker David Caldwell, 51, a Protestant from Eglinton, died when he picked up a booby-trapped lunchbox which exploded in his hands.
The killers belonged to the Real IRA, the same dissident republican organisation which bombed Omagh in August 1998 killing 29 people, including a woman with unborn twins.
Detective Inspector Robbie Paul disclosed how close police were to charging the killers who struck at a TA base in Londonderry, on August 1, 2002.
Inspector Paul said: "We believe we have an accurate intelligence picture of the group of people involved in carrying out the murder but we can't go to court with intelligence alone. We need firm evidence. I'm fairly sure we know the group of people involved."
The detective said the members of the gang could have carried out other attacks since the murder.
"I have no doubt that they are committed members of a terrorist organisation and could be involved in other terrorist crimes."
Police this week mounted road checks in the area of the TA camp where the gang used wire-cutters to break through a perimeter fence and abandoned the bomb.
Inspector Paul added: "We believe David was not the specific target, this device was left for the first person who picked it up and it could have killed any of the mixed workforce.
"David's death has devastated his family, who are still living with the horror of the 1st August 2002.
"He was a decent, hardworking man respected by his employers and a totally innocent victim of an organisation who have no role in a civilised society."
Appealing for any information, however small, that would help the inquiry team, the inspector added: "The detectives need public support to solve this brutal murder and they are urging the community to give information to the police.
"Someone must know who planned and carried out this atrocity. I appeal to the consciences of those people and would ask them to consider how they would feel if a member of their family was murdered in such a cruel way."
East Londonderry MP Gregory Campbell said: "If the police are saying they know who is responsible but don't have the necessary forensic evidence to bring them to justice, then this is a serious indictment on our system of justice.
"Here we are a year later and the people who carried out this atrocity are still walking about free."
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/520
Published Date: 01-Aug-03
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