Murder plot trial of loyalist ‘Winkie’ Rea is put on hold for medical tests
THE non-jury trial of former leading loyalist Winston Rea has been postponed so he can undergo a series of medical tests.
Rea may have to undergo MRI or CT scans for a “long-standing illness”, Belfast Crown Court heard yesterday.
Defence counsel Arthur Harvey QC said the 67-year-old, of Springwell Crescent in Groomsport, Co Down, has also been examined by a neurological psychiatrist.
Rea was arraigned in October 2017 and pleaded not guilty to all 19 charges said to have been committed on dates between 1973 and 1996.
Included in the charges faced by ‘Winkie’ Rea are conspiring to murder Catholic men John Devine in July 1989 and John O’Hara in April 1991.
Mr Devine (37), was shot in front of his son in west Belfast while Mr O’Hara, a 41-year-old taxi driver, was lured to his murder in the south of the city.
Rea has also been charged with conspiring with others to threaten to kill LVF leader Billy Wright in August, 1996.
He also pleaded not guilty to firearms and other terror-related charges, including conspiring to possess firearms secured from
the Ulster Resistance paramilitary group on dates between November, 1986 and October, 1994.
He is further charged with encouraging the murder of “persons working in shops selling An Phoblacht in republican and nationalist areas” between November, 1977 and October, 1994.
Rea, who was not in court for the proceedings, was due to stand trial on all charges early next month.
At yesterday’s review hearing, Mr Justice Colton heard that Rea had recently been examined by consultant psychiatrist Dr Helen Harbinson about his “cognitive ability” for the trial over a “long standing illness”.
Arthur Harvey QC said that three months ago Rea had a pacemaker device fitted to his heart which had “created a significant number of complications for the MRI and CT scans”.
He added that a medical practitioner had advised the defence that if the scans were to be carried out “eight doctors would have to be present for the removal of the heart pacemaker”.
The defence QC said Rea “will consent to any examination by experts appointed by the prosecution”.
Prosecution counsel Ciaran Murphy QC said he was mindful that “the families of multiple alleged victims will have been preparing themselves” ahead of next month’s trial, adding the provision of expert reports could cause “further delays for a considerable period”.
He urged Mr Justice Colton to fix a new date for the trial in the current court term.
Mr Justice Colton directed that a consultant neurological psychiatrist’s report on Rea be served on the prosecution within three weeks.
The judge said he was requesting the “full co-operation” of all defence medical experts in the case, urging them to comply with his directions which were “in the public interest of the trial process’’.
The judge listed the trial November 12 this year.