A Monaghan man has gone on trial in Belfast accused of the murders of two British soldiers, the shooting of a former UDR man and making bombs for attacks in London.
Mr Bernard McGinn (44), Henry Street, Castleblayney, was captured with three others when troops, some in plain clothes, swooped on a Border farm on April 10th, 1997.
The farm in Crossmaglen, Co Armagh, belonged to Mr Michael Kearns. There security forces uncovered a Barrett rifle, a sniper's sight, ammunition and an AKM assault rifle and magazines.
Belfast Crown Court was told yesterday it was the prosecution case that when captured, Mr Mc Ginn, Mr Michael Caraher (31), Kiltybane Road, Cullyhanna, Mr Martin Mines (30) of New Road, Tullydonnell, Silverbridge, and Mr James McArdle (30), Lurgan Road, Crossmaglen, were plotting to murder others.
They all deny conspiring to murder a person or persons unknown in south Down, and possession of the sniper's rifle.
Mr McGinn alone is accused of the sniper murders of Lance Cpl Stephen Restorick in Bessbrook on February 12th, 1997, and Lance Bombardier Paul Garrett at Keady on December 2nd, 1993, and the murder of former UDR man Mr Thomas Johnston on August 19th, 1978.
Mr John Creaney QC, prosecuting, said Mr McGinn was a member of a team which carried out the sniper murders, and was one of the two gunmen who carried out the killing of Mr Johnston.
Mr Creaney said Lance Cpl Restorick was manning a permanent checkpoint at Bessbrook when he was hit by a sniper's bullet which passed through his body, shattering the telescopic sight on his rifle which landed inside the car he was checking.
The driver of the car, Ms Lorraine McIlroy, was showered with blood, said Mr Creaney. She said the soldier had just handed back her driving licence and thanked her when suddenly she heard a loud bang and her husband also heard "the crack and saw the flash".
Lance Bombadier Garrett was on patrol on the outskirts of Keady when he was shot once through the stomach, the bullet having travelled through his magazine pouch, his flak jacket and out his back.
Mr Creaney said Mr Johnston was sitting in a car with a woman in the village when a van drew up and two gunmen jumped out and fired 18 Armalite-type bullets at the car.
It was also the prosecution's case that Mr McGinn was a bomb-maker and had made up two bombs meant for London and that he was also guilty of possessing Semtex explosives in the Republic which were later recovered in London.
The trial continues today.