Man murdered 'after priest plot failed'

A Catholic taxi driver was murdered after plans to kidnap three priests from a parochial house in County Armagh were aborted, Belfast Crown Court has been told.

Clifford McKeown, from Parkmore, Craigavon went on trial on Tuesday accused of killing Michael McGoldrick during the loyalist Drumcree stand-off in July 1996.

The 44-year-old denies the charge.

Gordon Weir QC, for the prosecution, said Mr McKeown had confessed his part in the murder to a freelance journalist.

Kidnap plan

He added the accused had claimed the murder was carried out as birthday present for Billy Wright, the former head of the Loyalist Volunteer Force.

Mr McKeown is said to have told the journalist that he, along with Billy Wright and another LVF man, Mark Fulton, discussed the plan to kidnap three Catholic priests and shoot them if Orangemen were not allowed to walk down the Garvaghy Road.

Clifford McKeown: On trial

Mr McGoldrick, a father of two, and part-time taxi driver was murdered at the height of the Drumcree stand-off.

His body was found in his cab in a country lane at Aghagallon, several miles from Lurgan, a day after he had picked up a fare in the town.

He had been shot five times in the head.

The court heard that Mr McKeown, who had been waiting in another car, opened the back door of the taxi and fired four times into Mr McGoldrick's head.

He then fired one final shot to "finish him off".

Mr McKeown, who has pleaded not guilty to murder, denied making any confessions to the journalist.

He claimed instead that the journalist had put details of the killing to him during their meetings but said he did not comment one way or the other.

The trial continues.