Loyalist feud link to Garvagh shooting, court hears
A MAN who tried to escape after being shot in the street slipped on ice and was kicked in the face while on the ground beside a war memorial, a court has heard.
The details emerged at Coleraine Magistrates Court yesterday where two men were remanded in custody in connection with a shooting in Garvagh.
Christopher Torrens Crawford, appearing in the dock on his 26th birthday, of Brone Park, Garvagh, is accused of attempting to murder a man on Sunday at around 3am.
Crawford, a quarry worker, is further charged with possessing a shotgun with intent to cause fear of violence and possession of a firearm and ammunition with intent. He is also accused of discharging a firearm on Main Street in the village and carrying a loaded shotgun in a public place without lawful authority or reasonable excuse.
The second man before the court was Philip Hara (28), an asphalter of Agivey Court in Garvagh.
He faces one charge of assisting an offender.
Their appearance comes after a 46-year-old man was shot in the leg.
Police said they received a report that three shots were fired and one hit the victim.
An officer told the court he believed he could connect the two defendants to the charges.
Opposing bail, the policeman said tension was high after the shooting and he feared there
could be further offences and intimidation of witnesses.
The officer said the injured man had claimed that “both men are connected to the UDA” and “run the town”.
The policeman said other witnesses
had declined to give statements.
Crawford’s defence barrister Michael Smyth said his client would allege the injured man “was affiliated with the UVF”.
The officer said the shooting was a “vicious and highly dangerous action which showed a blatant disregard for human life”.
The policeman added that the injured man had been in the Central Bar in Garvagh and when the two defendants — who were known to the injured party — arrived at the bar, there was an “exchange”.
The officer said Crawford later returned to the street outside with a legally-held double-barrelled shotgun and reloaded it at one stage.
He said the injured man was pursued up the street.
The officer said the injured man fell on ice and Crawford kicked him in the face as he lay on the ground near a war memorial.
The court heard that witnesses said Crawford told the man: “I’m going to do you.” In relation to Hara, the officer said the defendant was accused of washing items belonging to Crawford.
Mr Smyth said the defendant had made admissions but “the only issue was his intent”.
The officer said he could not comment on the UDA claim, other than to say: “It may be a possibility.”
Mr Smyth said his client claimed he got the weapon to go down and “scare” the other man.
The officer said: “I would accept that if he had not brought enough ammunition to reload.”
Refusing bail, District Judge Peter King said the allegations were “extremely serious”.
He remanded both men into custody to appear in court on January 8.