Man charged over McGoldrick murder

Mr McGoldrick was found dead in his car

A 42-year-old man has appeared in court charged with the murder of County Armagh taxi driver Michael McGoldrick five years ago.

Clifford George McKeown is charged with murdering 31-year-old Mr McGoldrick between 6 and 9 July 1996 at Aghagallon, near Lurgan, in County Armagh.

Mr McGoldrick, a Catholic, was killed at the height of the Protestant Orange Order's stand-off at nearby Drumcree Church.

He was found dead at the wheel of his car having been shot.

Mr McKeown, whose address was given as care of Maghaberry Prison, appeared at Craigavon Magistrate's Court on Friday.

Michael McGoldrick had graduated two days before the murder

The court heard when the charge was put to him, Mr McKeown said: "I am totally innocent of the murder of Michael McGoldrick."

But a detective inspector told the court he believed he could connect the defendant to the charge.

Before Mr McKeown was led away, he said he wanted to make it clear to the court that the only evidence on this charge was "based on a journalist".

The accused was remanded until 29 November.

Parade block

Mr McGoldrick, had graduated from Queens' University, Belfast, two days before the murder, with a degree in English and Politics and hoped to be a teacher.

He was working as a taxi driver in his home town of Lurgan when he was killed.

Mr McGoldrick's wife, who was pregnant with their second child when he was murdered, was in court but left without making any comment.

His murder shocked Northern Ireland as loyalist violence erupted across the province in sympathy with the Orange parade being blocked from marching down the mainly nationalist Garvaghy Road in Portadown.