Man denies shooting builder
A 47-year-old man today denied responsibility for a murder on a loyalist housing estate in Co Down earlier this year.
James Clarke, an unemployed joiner, of Stirling Avenue in the West Winds Estate at Newtownards, was charged with the murder of Andrew Cully, also 47, on March 24.
Mr Cully was shot dead as he sat in his car in the West Winds estate.
The self-employed builder from North Street in Greyabbey, a few miles from Newtownards, died instantly when he was hit by a volley of up to 10 shots fired at close range.
Newtownards Magistrates Court was told by a detective inspector who charged Clarke that he replied “not guilty”.
Under questioning by a defence solicitor, he confirmed that the accused had denied any involvement in the shooting.
The court heard an alleged witness to the shooting had been removed from the West Winds Estate and was under the witness protection scheme.
Clarke was remanded in custody until June 25.
Last month the Independent Monitoring Commission categorised Mr Culley’s murder as the 12th carried out by paramilitary groups since January 2003.
