Mortar bomb defused following Derry murder

British army bomb disposal experts yesterday defused a mortar bomb found close to the PSNI’s headquarters at Strand Road in Derry, just hours after a man was murdered in a city centre flat.

Almost 1,000 people were evacuated from their homes late on Thursday night following the discovery of the device at Lawrence Hill, a residential area less than 50 metres from the police station. It was found after Barry McCrory was murdered in a flat at Shipquay Street on Thursday morning.

Supt Stephen Cargin described the device as “a viable mortar-type bomb” and said it had been left by what he called misguided people.

“It is only by good fortune that we are not talking about loss of life or serious damage to property. While the device will be forensically examined in due course, it is safe to say that the intent here was to kill or injure and create fear within the community,” he said.

Protest rally
Hours after the device was made safe, several hundred people attended a rally in Guildhall Square to protest at the murder of Mr McCrory.

Detectives investigating the murder have said they are looking for local man Kieran McLaughlin (58) and have warned members of the public not to approach him. He has served three terms of imprisonmentfor explosives offences. It is believed that the unmasked man who killed Mr McCrory, who had also served prison sentences for criminal offences, forced his way into the Shipquay Street flat where the victim was staying with his girlfriend, Liz Timoney.

Ms Timoney, who had been renting the flat for just over three years, was ordered by the gunman to lie down on the living room floor. He then sat on the sofa before removing a handgun from a rucksack he was carrying and walking into the bedroom where he shot his sleeping victim several times in the head and body.

Yesterday’s protest was attended by Mr McCrory’s parents Danny and Anne and by his nine-year-old son Shea. A two-minute silence was observed before the rally organiser, Creggan community worker Séamus Heaney, told the gathering that the murderer had been motivated by hatred.

“The actions of those responsible for this murder and for the attempted bombing of the police station hurt us all,” he added.