Murder plot woman gets 5 more years
Five more years added to sentence for luring officers to a pipe bomb attack
A top PSNI detective has welcomed a decision to increase the sentence of a woman convicted of an “abhorrent plot” to murder a police officer by five years.
Judges held that the 20-year term imposed on Christine Connor for a pipe bomb attack on officers lured to the scene by a hoax 999 call in May 2013 was “unsustainably generous”. Det Supt Richard Campbell said it sent a clear message.
A top PSNI detective has welcomed a decision to increase the sentence of a woman convicted of an “abhorrent plot” to murder a police officer.
Yesterday senior judges held that the 20-year term imposed on Christine Connor for a pipe bomb attack on officers lured to the scene by a hoax 999 call in May 2013 was “unsustainably generous”.
With her bid to overturn the guilty verdict also dismissed, Lord Justice Mccloskey said: “The attempted murder of any member of the security forces in Northern Ireland is a heinous crime, demanding of condign punishment.
“The offending of Ms Connor is characterised by a multiplicity of aggravating facts and factors and a stark absence of mitigation. We substitute a sentence of 25 years imprisonment, accompanied by an extended licence period of four years.”
Welcoming the ruling, Detective Superintendent Richard Campbell, of the PSNI’S Serious Crime Branch, said it sent out a clear message.
He noted that Connor had made a “callous” call for help, pretending her boyfriend had assaulted her and exploiting a situation genuine victims of domestic abuse find themselves in.
“The officers were responding to what they believed was a woman in fear of an abusive partner,” he said.
“They never expected to be the victims of an attempted murder bid that day when they left their homes to come on duty.”
Det Supt Campbell added: “Christine Connor did not care who she hurt or injured as she attempted to kill an officer, as is demonstrated by the Appeal judge’s assessment that she had a ‘reckless disregard for the safety and lives of innocent residents and other civilians’.
“I hope today’s outcome sends a clear message to anyone planning on engaging in murderous activity against police officers, or any other public servants working to keep our communities safe, that there is no place for this in Northern Ireland.
“Our communities want to thrive and not be dragged backwards by self-serving violent terrorists.”
Det Supt Campbell also paid tribute to the “excellent joint working” between the PSNI, West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit and other UK police services.
Connor (35), was found guilty of attempted murder and causing an explosion likely to endanger life following a non-jury trial at Belfast Crown Court.
According to the prosecution she carried out a trial run on May 16, throwing a pipe bomb on the Ligoniel Road and then phoning to say a device had been left on a wall.
A couple were travelling on the road when the device exploded, but no damage was caused to their vehicle.
Defence lawyers questioned whether a pipe bomb was even used in that incident, therefore calling into question any potential for endangering life.
They contended that it had been wrong to exclude the possibility of the explosion being caused by something else.
In a second incident, a bogus 999 call lured PSNI officers to the Crumlin Road in the early hours of May 28.
Connor, whose previous address in Belfast is subject to reporting restrictions, was said to have been behind the hoax, claiming to be a victim of domestic abuse who needed urgent police assistance.
When officers attended a house in the area a pipe bomb was thrown at them from a nearby alleyway.
At the scene police found evidence linking Connor to the attack, including a hoodie top which bore her blood, as well as
a shopping bag containing her phone and gloves with her DNA on them.
She contested a finding at trial that she was the one who actually threw the devices.
But the three appeal judges backed prosecution submissions that even if someone else had thrown the devices, Connor was still responsible as part of a joint enterprise.
Lord Justice Mccloskey said: “The undisputed evidence was that pipe bombs are constructed with the aim of showering shrapnel in all directions.
“There was ample evidence to support the judge’s finding that the devices were pipe bombs and that, in those circumstances and in light of the other evidence before him, they were likely to endanger life or cause serious injury to property.”
He held that Connor could still be convicted of attempted murder without finding beyond reasonable doubt that she was the person who had thrown the pipe bombs.
Lord Justice Mccloskey confirmed: “This court entertains no concern about the safety of the appellant’s conviction.”
‘Our communities... do not want be dragged backwards by violent, self-serving terrorists’