Forensics link Martin McCauley to ‘cowardly murder’ of three RUC men, court told

Forensic grounds links a antheral to the “callous and cowardly” execution of 3 constabulary officers successful Northern Ireland successful 1982, a tribunal has heard.

Martin John McCauley, 62, with an code astatine Esmondale successful Naas, County Kildare, appeared successful the dock astatine Craigavon Magistrates’ Court connected Thursday.

Mr McCauley was 1 of the alleged Colombia Three, who were accused of grooming rebel FARC guerrilla forces successful 2001.

McCauley was charged with murdering Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) Sergeant Sean Quinn and constables Allan McCloy and Paul Hamilton successful a landmine onslaught astatine Kinnego Embankment adjacent Lurgan connected October 27 1982.

The IRA claimed work for the attack.

A prosecuting lawyer told the tribunal that McCauley had been extradited from the Republic of Ireland.

The 3 execution charges were work to McCauley arsenic helium stood successful the dock.

A PSNI detective inspector told the tribunal she could link the accused to the charges.

This was a callous and cowardly execution of 3 RUC officers portion connected work responding to a telephone from the public

Outlining the facts, the prosecuting lawyer said: “A important weaponry was hidden underneath the road.

“It detonated remotely arsenic the officers’ conveyance went implicit it.”

He said a fig of items had been recovered from the country astatine the time, including cigaret butts.

He added the items had been subjected to “modern epoch forensic examination”, which could lucifer McCauley’s DNA to that identified connected the butts.

He said the beingness of DNA of different individuals who are present dormant were besides discovered.

The detective inspector told the tribunal she opposed an exertion for bail connected the ground of hazard of flight, hazard of further offences and hazard of interference with witnesses.

She said: “This was a callous and cowardly execution of 3 RUC officers portion connected work responding to a telephone from the public.”

She pointed retired McCauley did not unrecorded successful Northern Ireland and had successful the past demonstrated the quality to question without a passport.

A defence lawyer said helium was amazed that the constabulary were opposing bail.

He said constabulary concerns that the suspect could interfere with witnesses were “quite frankly, absurd”.

He added: “It is each spot arsenic absurd arsenic the objection connected the ground of determination being a hazard of further offences.”

On the contented of hazard of flight, the lawyer said: “He is arsenic anchored to this land arsenic anyone tin perchance be.”

The lawyer said his lawsuit had known for 2 weeks that helium would beryllium extradited to Northern Ireland but had continued to honour bail conditions successful the Republic of Ireland.

District Judge Philip Mateer said helium was satisfied determination was a prima facie lawsuit against McCauley.

However, helium said helium was not satisfied that determination was a ineligible justification to garbage bail.

McCauley volition look successful tribunal again connected February 26.

McCauley was initially arrested by gardai successful the Republic of Ireland successful August 2024 and had been connected bail since an quality astatine the High Court successful Dublin connected ft of the extradition warrant.