Menu
30/10/2001
Republicans blamed for “brutal” murder in Strabane
The Royal Ulster Constabulary have said they believe republican paramilitaries were responsible for the murder of a Protestant man outside the County Tyrone home of his 16 year old Catholic girlfriend.
Two masked gunmen opened fire on Charles Folliard, aged 30, in Strabane around 11.30pm on Monday October 29, as he left the Oakland Park home of his 16-year-old girlfriend.
The victim, who was hit in the head and leg as he sat in his car, had loyalist paramilitary connections and had been convicted of conspiracy to murder in 1991.
Mr Folliard was taken to Altnagelvin hospital in Londonderry but died on arrival. His family have made a public appeal for no retaliation for his murder.
The police commander for Strabane, Superintendent Clifford Best said it was a “cold and brutal execution of a man in front of his girlfriend”.
He said at this stage it appeared republicans were responsible but which faction was still unclear. He said: “We believe paramilitaries were behind this murder and we are confident that republican terrorists were involved. A sectarian motive is one of the avenues we are looking at. This was a Protestant shot dead leaving his girlfriend's home. She is a Catholic. But it is too early to definitively state the motive behind this attack.”
Sinn Féin MP for the area Pat Doherty has also condemned the attack but has maintained that the IRA had no part to play in Mr Folliard’s death: “I categorically and absolutely refute the fact that republicans were involved in this killing. I believe the IRA ceasefire is still intact. Whoever carried it out were enemies of the peace process and the current developments."
Ulster Unionist assembly member Derek Hussey said it was a shocking murder after the decision by republicans to make a first move on disarming last week.
SDLP West Tyrone assembly member Eugene McMenamin said the shooting must be condemned by all sides in the community. He said: “Last week people throughout Northern Ireland were given hope by the IRA statement on decommissioning. We looked forward to a brighter future and hoped shootings and bombings may become consigned to the past. Tragically it seems this is not the case.”
The police in Strabane have appealed for anyone with more information on the killing to come forward. (AMcE)
Two masked gunmen opened fire on Charles Folliard, aged 30, in Strabane around 11.30pm on Monday October 29, as he left the Oakland Park home of his 16-year-old girlfriend.
The victim, who was hit in the head and leg as he sat in his car, had loyalist paramilitary connections and had been convicted of conspiracy to murder in 1991.
Mr Folliard was taken to Altnagelvin hospital in Londonderry but died on arrival. His family have made a public appeal for no retaliation for his murder.
The police commander for Strabane, Superintendent Clifford Best said it was a “cold and brutal execution of a man in front of his girlfriend”.
He said at this stage it appeared republicans were responsible but which faction was still unclear. He said: “We believe paramilitaries were behind this murder and we are confident that republican terrorists were involved. A sectarian motive is one of the avenues we are looking at. This was a Protestant shot dead leaving his girlfriend's home. She is a Catholic. But it is too early to definitively state the motive behind this attack.”
Sinn Féin MP for the area Pat Doherty has also condemned the attack but has maintained that the IRA had no part to play in Mr Folliard’s death: “I categorically and absolutely refute the fact that republicans were involved in this killing. I believe the IRA ceasefire is still intact. Whoever carried it out were enemies of the peace process and the current developments."
Ulster Unionist assembly member Derek Hussey said it was a shocking murder after the decision by republicans to make a first move on disarming last week.
SDLP West Tyrone assembly member Eugene McMenamin said the shooting must be condemned by all sides in the community. He said: “Last week people throughout Northern Ireland were given hope by the IRA statement on decommissioning. We looked forward to a brighter future and hoped shootings and bombings may become consigned to the past. Tragically it seems this is not the case.”
The police in Strabane have appealed for anyone with more information on the killing to come forward. (AMcE)
Related Northern Ireland News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
11 September 2008
Five Arrested Over Journalist's Murder
Police investigating the murder of journalist Martin O'Hagan have arrested five people in counties Down and Armagh. The Sunday World reporter was gunned down by loyalist paramilitaries in 2001. The Lurgan man, 51, was walking home from a night out with his wife when the attack happened.
Five Arrested Over Journalist's Murder
Police investigating the murder of journalist Martin O'Hagan have arrested five people in counties Down and Armagh. The Sunday World reporter was gunned down by loyalist paramilitaries in 2001. The Lurgan man, 51, was walking home from a night out with his wife when the attack happened.
26 November 2007
British-Irish Meeting Highlighting Quinn Murder
The controversial - and brutal - murder of 21-year Paul Quinn in County Monaghan last month is to dominate proceedings at a meeting of the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body in Oxfordshire later today. The delegates at the meeting are to press Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward to make a statement about the killing.
British-Irish Meeting Highlighting Quinn Murder
The controversial - and brutal - murder of 21-year Paul Quinn in County Monaghan last month is to dominate proceedings at a meeting of the British-Irish Inter-Parliamentary Body in Oxfordshire later today. The delegates at the meeting are to press Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward to make a statement about the killing.
12 November 2003
Trimble brands DUP campaign a 'fraud'
Ulster Unionist Party leader, David Trimble today branded the DUP's election campaign as "the biggest fraud ever foisted on the Unionist people".
Trimble brands DUP campaign a 'fraud'
Ulster Unionist Party leader, David Trimble today branded the DUP's election campaign as "the biggest fraud ever foisted on the Unionist people".
09 May 2007
Mother of IRA murder victim dies
The mother of an IRA murder victim whose body was never found, suffered a major stroke last week and died in Craigavon Area Hospital. 82-year-old Vera McVeigh campaigned for the return of her son's body after the IRA secretly buried his body in 1975.
Mother of IRA murder victim dies
The mother of an IRA murder victim whose body was never found, suffered a major stroke last week and died in Craigavon Area Hospital. 82-year-old Vera McVeigh campaigned for the return of her son's body after the IRA secretly buried his body in 1975.
21 June 2018
Raymond Johnston Murder: Police Blame Dissident Republicans
Police believe a dissident republican group Arm na Poblachta was behind the murder of Raymond Johnston in west Belfast. Mr Johnston was fatally shot at his house in the Glenbawn Avenue area of Poleglass on 13 February. His partner and child were in the house at the time.
Raymond Johnston Murder: Police Blame Dissident Republicans
Police believe a dissident republican group Arm na Poblachta was behind the murder of Raymond Johnston in west Belfast. Mr Johnston was fatally shot at his house in the Glenbawn Avenue area of Poleglass on 13 February. His partner and child were in the house at the time.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:It will be cloudy. Also mainly dry at first this evening but then occasional outbreaks of rain developing overnight. Light southwest winds, and staying mild. Minimum temperature 9 °C.
