The victims of recent violence in N.Ireland

Ex-Sinn Fein member charged with police murder

Ex-Sinn Fein member charged with police murder

By politics.co.uk staff

A former Sinn Fein councillor has appeared in court charged with the murder of Police Constable Stephen Carroll.

Brendan McConville, 37, is also charged with one count of possessing a firearm. He reportedly denied both charges at Lisburn magistrates’ court earlier this morning.

Mr McConville was remanded in custody and will appear in court again on April 3rd.

PC Carroll was shot dead after responding to a call for help on March 9th.

A 17-year-old youth has also been charged with his murder and was remanded in custody earlier this week.

The police officer’s death came two days after British soldiers Mark Quinsey and Patrick Azimkar were shot dead.

Six people held by Northern Ireland police over both murders earlier won a high court challenge to their continued detention, saying it breached their human rights.

Reports suggest four men have been released without charge today.