The killers who gunned down a security guard in Belfast city centre nearly two years ago used two children to aid their escape, a lawyer has claimed. He alleged the men had collected the children from two women after discarding clothing and masks at the side door of a Castle Street bar.
Two west Belfast men are on, trial at Belfast Crown Court for the murder of Mr Nigel Smyth (19), of Fifth Street, in the Shankill area of the city. He was shot three times on May 23rd, 1994, while on duty at the rear of the Anderson & McAuley building in Royal Avenue.
Mr Thomas John Fox (29), of Doon Road, and Mr Damien Sullivan (27), of Rinnaleu, Grove, also deny possessing the murder weapon with intent to endanger life.
A Crown lawyer said video tapes showed two men, whom, he claimed, could be identified as the defendants, going towards and running away from Anderson & McAuley's, and late re entering Castle Court, each carrying a child.
The men had made their way through the Hercules Bar before meeting two women with the children at the side door. There the men had discarded their hard hats, masks, jackets and gloves, before each picked up a child and walked off towards Castle Court.
The trial continues this morning.