A PROMINENT republican and alleged former IRA member went on trial yesterday for trying to kill a part-time UDR soldier almost 30 years ago.
Belfast Crown Court heard 51-year-old Terence Gerard McGeough was shot in the chest by the intended victim Samuel John Brush as the part-time soldier and full-time postman fought back when he was attacked by two men on June 13th, 1981.
McGeough, from the Carrycastle Road, Gortmerron, Dungannon, Co Tyrone, is accused of attempting to murder Mr Brush, of possessing two Colt revolvers used in the attack and of two counts of being an IRA member on dates between January 1975 and June 1981. Vincent McAnespie (47), Aghabo Close, Aughnacloy, Co Tyrone, denies possessing the guns and ammunition with intent to endanger life, and impeding the apprehension of Mr McGeough.
Opening the prosecution case, Gordon Kerr QC told the court Mr Brush carried a legally held revolver.
The prosecution’s case is that Mr McGeough was the gunman who was shot by the intended victim, and that Mr McAnespie hid the guns in a neighbour’s yard.
The lawyer said that just after lunch time, Mr Brush was making a delivery to a house near Aughnacloy when he saw a masked gunman step from a shed, turn in his direction and shoot at him from about 12ft.
“Fortunately for Mr Brush, it was his habit to wear body armour under his postal uniform,” said Mr Kerr, adding that as he fled, the part-time soldier felt shots hit him in the chest, shoulder and back. “There were a number of further shots but by the time of the last shot, he had drawn his weapon and he decided to go back to the house with his weapon drawn.”
He outlined to Mr Justice Stephens how Mr Brush fired two shots at a gunman standing at the front door, and that as he moved away he saw movement in a hedge to his left, firing another two shots into it.
Mr Brush managed to get back to his van, but before driving off, he noticed the householder, Mary McGarvey and her sister were at the front door.
He was later treated in hospital for gunshot wounds and for collapsed lungs.
Mr Kerr told the judge that during the trial he would hear from Mrs McGarvey, who would give evidence that she found two gunmen in her kitchen who said “they were from the IRA and that she was not to be alarmed”.
The lawyer said at around 1pm, Mrs McGarvey heard a car pulling up and shots being fired, and that a gunman came in saying he had been shot and telling one of the neighbours to take him to hospital.