Man charged with attempted murder of ex-PSNI detective to be released from custody

A man charged with the attempted murder of a former senior Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) detective will be released from custody, a High Court judge has ruled.

41-year-old Brian Carron was granted bail on strict conditions after spending three years remanded in prison over his alleged role in the bid to murder John Caldwell.

Caldwell was off-duty when he was shot several times at a sports complex after coaching a youth football team in Omagh.

He retired from the PSNI on medical grounds in December 2024.

The New IRA claimed responsibility for the attack, but other criminal factions are believed to have assisted in targeting someone regarded as their joint enemy.

Carron, of Claremount Drive in Coalisland, County Tyrone, is among a number of men charged with the attempted murder.

He also faces a further count of membership of a proscribed organisation.

The court heard that the alleged case against Carron is based on the movement of vehicles, CCTV footage, association with other suspects and a period of telephone inactivity around the period of the shooting.

Prosecutors also claimed that a beanie cap seized from Carron's home following the attack contained cartridge discharge residue.

Opposing bail, the prosecution argued he poses too great a risk to the public.

Des Fahy KC, defending, insisted the evidence against Carron is circumstantial and weaker than the case against others accused of involvement in the attempted murder.

Based on delays in the case, Mr Fahy described his continued detention as unjustified.

Mr Justice Huddleston has confirmed the time had come for Carron to be released on bail under a series of terms aimed at managing any risk.

The judge ordered him to lodge a total of £15,000 in cash sureties, report daily to police, surrender all travel documents and prohibited contact with any co-accused.

The judge also directed Carron must take up a job offer within the construction industry and barred him from entering the town of Omagh.