The getaway car allegedly used by the gunmen who murdered Mr Philip Allen and Mr Damien Trainor in a Co Armagh bar on March 3rd, 1998, had been stolen just hours earlier, a Belfast court heard yesterday.
The car was taken from Dromore, Co Down, on the afternoon of March 3rd, and found burning by a local farmer within an hour of the shooting that evening.
Two men, Mr Stephen McClean (30) of Hillside Park, Banbridge, Co Down, and Mr Noel McCready (32) of Dickson Park in nearby Seapatrick, deny murdering the two friends and attempting to murder two other customers in the Railway Bar, Poyntzpass, Co Armagh.
The owner of the car, Mr David Gibson, told their Crown Court trial he had parked his car outside his work in Dromore at about 7:50 a.m. It was still in the same place at 2 p.m., but was gone two hours later. Mr Gibson also told the court that he had never given a lift in the car to either of the two accused, or to Ryan Robley, of Highfield Gardens, Banbridge, who is awaiting sentence for his part in the shooting.
He further denied knowing or giving a lift to Mr David Keyes of Banbridge, who was murdered in the LVF wing of the Maze prison while on remand awaiting trial.
The car was found by Mr Colin Ferguson, who said he had been to a livestock sale in Poyntzpass. Because of the shooting his normal route home was blocked by police. He said he was directed along an unfamiliar road and took a wrong turn. He found a car burning on the Old Mill Road, which he reported.
The trial continues on Monday.