Alan Lundy: New IRA chief’s pal charged with DCI John Caldwell murder bid

https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/news/new-ira-chiefs-pal-charged-with-dci-john-caldwell-murder-bid/a970902620.html

A close associate of New IRA boss Thomas Ashe Mellon has been charged with the attempted murder of senior PSNI detective John Caldwell.
Alan Lundy appeared at Dungannon Magistrates Court yesterday, with an investigating officer describing him as the “main conduit” for the vehicles used in the bid by the dissident group to kill DCI Caldwell last February.
The 44-year-old, from Flax Street in the Ardoyne area of north Belfast, did not identify himself and refused to speak when addressed by the judge.
Lundy, who is closely linked to alleged New IRA boss Davy Jordan, is also charged with preparing terrorist acts and directing terrorism.
A detective told the court they believe Lundy was a key figure in obtaining the cars used in the attack at the Youth Sport Centre in Omagh.
DCI Caldwell was shot several times in front of his son in the car park of the facility after he had finished coaching a kids’ football training session.
The detective said CCTV and mobile phone cell site analysis showed Lundy was in contact with other men charged in relation to the attempt to kill the policeman.
The detective added that police believe the gang may have tried to kill DCI Caldwell three weeks prior, only for that evening’s football practice to be unexpectedly cancelled.
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He said that cars linked to other men charged in the case were seen on CCTV at the centre at almost the same time as the actual attack would eventually take place.
The detective told the court that new cars — two Ford Fiestas — were purchased via Lundy and another man from an auction in Ballyclare.
He said this followed what he described as a “panic meeting” between Brian Carron, who is also charged with attempted murder, and Lundy in Dungannon.

Alan Lundy
The detective added that evidence had been gathered which he said showed Lundy was in contact with other individuals charged in the case in the week up to the attack.
He said police believe Lundy was the “main conduit” between the gang in east Tyrone and Belfast.
When asked by a prosecution lawyer if Lundy gave any response or account when the evidence was put to him during interviews, the detective told the court he did not during the seven hours and 44 minutes of questioning.
He added that Lundy’s mobile phone had yet to be found.
Lundy’s solicitor said there was no DNA evidence or eyewitnesses to link him to the key scenes in the murder plot and that mobile phone analysis could not put him at any one location, nor was there any evidence linking him to the vehicles used.
She added police had “created a narrative” which was not supported by any evidence.
However, Judge Ranaghan said he was satisfied there was sufficient evidence to connect Lundy to the charge.
Lundy’s solicitor asked for the case to be adjourned to a later date for a bail application to be mounted. Judge Ranaghan listed the case to be next heard on February 27 at Omagh Magistrates’ Court.

DCI John Caldwell
Shortly after the hearing started, Judge Ranaghan asked several men sitting in the public seats at the back of the court to stand up. When they refused, he ordered them to be removed.
As they left, one of them shouted “justice”.
This man was identified to the court by police as convicted terrorist Vincent Kelly, with an officer saying he was known to him through his investigation of such activities.
Judge Ranaghan asked that Kelly be told to return to the court at 10am tomorrow to apologise for disrupting the proceedings or a warrant would be issued for his arrest.
Police believe the New IRA acted in conjunction with loyalist-linked drug dealers to try and murder DCI Caldwell due to his role in investigating criminal activity by both groups.
Lundy’s partner is Shannon O’Neill, the daughter of alleged New IRA leader Davy Jordan.
So far, 11 people have been charged in connection with the bid to murder DCI Caldwell, with Lundy being the eighth accused of attempted murder.
The other seven men charged are: Robert McLean (29), of Deveney Park, Omagh; James Ivor McLean (72), of the same address; Matthew McLean (33), of Glenpark Road, Omagh; Jonathan McGinty (28), of St Julians Downs, Omagh; Brian Carron (38), of Claremount Drive, Coalisland; Gavin Coyle (45), of Killybrack Mews, Omagh; and Alan McFarland (47), of Deverney Park, Omagh.
Carron and Coyle also face charges of IRA membership.
Also charged in connection with the case are: James Gerard McSorley (58), from Chichester Mews, Belfast; John Andrew Gallagher (45), from Church Drive, Newtownabbey; and Tony Thomas Slevin (47), from Derryloughan Road, Coalisland.
They are all accused of preparing for acts of terrorism.

by LoveLaughLarne