A loyalist bagpiper has appeared in court charged with the murder of a Catholic man who died last month, nine years after he was attacked and beaten at a barbecue in Derry city.
Paul McCauley, 29, was left in a persistent vegetative state after the attack in July 2006.
His family fought a long campaign to bring his killers to justice and even released a photograph of their son lying with a oxygen mask on his face and his partially shaven head exposing a huge stitched head wound. The civil servant sustained a fractured skull in the assault by a mob, which his family and police believe had a sectarian motive.
In Derry magistrates court on Saturday, John McClements, 24, whose address was given as the loyalist Fountain estate, denied murder.
A detective constable from the Police Service of Northern Ireland told the court the accused was formerly known as Daryl Proctor and had previously pleaded guilty to causing grievous bodily harm to McCauley and served a sentence.
The police officer said she believed she could connect McClements to the murder charge.
Opposing bail, the detective constable said she believed others were involved in the 2006 attack and, if he was released, he could interfere with the course of justice.
A defence solicitor said McClements was on high court bail for two years during the previous case and never breached his conditions. He also said that his client had already accepted responsibility for his part in this case and he would not benefit from interfering with anyone.
The 24-year-old was granted bail to reappear in court next month.
District judge John Meehan said: “This is a matter of acute public concern, one of the most brutal, sectarian attacks in a long catalogue.” Referring to the police’s belief that up to 15 people may been involved in the attack, Meehan said: “There are, disturbingly and to this day, many others who were involved in the brutal circumstances leading to the death of the unfortunate victim.”
