Former Reservist Arrested in Garrison Shooting

Burnt

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/northern_ireland/foyle_and_west/8382381.stm

news.bbc.co.uk wrote:

Accused gunman was in Irish army

Gerard McManus was one of two men remanded in custody over the shooting
One of the men accused of trying to kill a police officer in County Fermanagh was a reserve soldier in the Irish Army, it has been confirmed.

Gerard James McManus, from Fern Hill in Letterkenny, County Donegal, appeared in court on Wednesday charged with attempting to murder a trainee officer.

The 26-year-old was arrested after shots were fired during an undercover police operation in Garrison village.

He was dismissed from the Irish Reserve on Tuesday.

A spokesman for the Irish defence forces said Gerard McManus had joined the Irish Reserve Defence Force in 2000, and was a member of the Carndonagh unit in County Donegal.

The commandant added that Mr McManus had not taken part in training or shown up for parading duties for the last two years.

He explained that reservists undertake training on a voluntary basis and that if they do not report for training for a period of more than 18 months they can be dismissed.

Shots fired

The commandant said that even before he was arrested, a process had already begun to dismiss Mr McManus as a reservist.

At the court hearing on Wednesday, a defence solicitor asked a detective if it was true Mr McManus had given a version of events in which he said shots had been fired at him, he had fled, and that while doing this, he had fired a shot away from the undercover police officers.

The detective confirmed that this was the version of events the accused had given.

Mr McManus was one of two men who were remanded in custody on Wednesday, charged with the attempted murder.

Resisting arrest

His co-accused is 32-year-old Kevin Barry Nolan, from Main Street, Blacklion in County Cavan.

Mr Nolan stood as independent republican candidate in local council elections in County Fermanagh four years ago.

The pair were also charged with having a gun and Mr McManus was further charged with using a gun to resist arrest.

Three other men arrested after the weekend gun attack were released without charge on Monday.

Two were arrested by the PSNI in Fermanagh and one by Irish police in County Leitrim.

BigDuffman

Scumbag....disgrace to the uniform. Embarrassment to the country.

Manic Moran

I guess they'll start taking people off the books faster, now.

NTM

Terrontress

People on both sides of the Irish conflict have always used state military training for their nefarious aims.

testicle

innocent until proven guilty.

Terrontress

testicle wrote: »

innocent until proven guilty.

Innocent until making a statement that he was opposite a policeman's house, engaged in a gun battle with undercover police and shooting a gun.

diverdriver

His co-accused is 32-year-old Kevin Barry Nolan, from Main Street, Blacklion in County Cavan

Now there is someone who was groomed from birth to take an active part in the 'armed struggle'.

sunnyjim

There was a radio show a while ago about people who were given names by their parents after different celebrities, singers, historical figures etc.

One guy came on, he was named Kevin Barry by his parents after the very one who raided the bread van...

McArmalite

sunnyjim wrote: »

There was a radio show a while ago about people who were given names by their parents after different celebrities, singers, historical figures etc.

One guy came on, he was named Kevin Barry by his parents after the very one who raided the bread van...

:rolleyes: No Einstein, it wasn't an operation to raid a bread van, it was an operation to capture weapons as the british picked up supplies of food. The operation was compromised when one of the brits let off a shot, but still, 3 brits were killed at the scene and the rest of the IRA unit escaped

Dazzler88

diverdriver wrote: »

Now there is someone who was groomed from birth to take an active part in the 'armed struggle'.

i know this guy and the funny thing is..His nickname is Brigadier ...funny