Responsibility claim charge dropped in Caldwell case

Image source, PA

Image caption, John Caldwell survived being shot several times after gunmen targeted him while he was off duty

A man charged over a claim of responsibility for the attempted murder of Det Ch Insp John Caldwell has had the charge against him withdrawn.

William Martin McDonnell, 36, of Balbane Pass in Londonderry, had faced one charge of having a document claiming responsibility by the New IRA for the attack.

The claim was on a piece of paper stuck on a wall in the Creggan area of Derry on 26 February.

Mr Caldwell was shot several times in Omagh, County Tyrone, on 22 February 2023.

The senior detective was off duty when he was shot at a sports complex after taking a children's football training session.

A prosecutor told Londonderry Magistrates' Court on Wednesday that the charge against Mr McDonnell was being withdrawn.

No explanation was given.

Two other men are still facing charges relating to the claim of responsibility.

Caolan Robert Brogan, 23, of Bluebell Hill Gardens and Tiernan McFadden, 25, of Carnhil, both from Derry, are due to appear at a preliminary enquiry in May to determine if they should stand trial.

The court was also told that it was anticipated that another defendant would be added to the indictment, the legal document setting out the charges in the case.

A defence lawyer asked if that could be done before the preliminary enquiry date, so the case would not be held up.