Detective denies pressing witness to change statement, appeal court hears

Former Sinn Fein Councillor Brendan McConville r.

A detective has denied pressing a witness to change his statement in the case of case of two men appealing convictions for murdering a policeman.

Brendan McConville and John Paul Wootton are challenging their conviction for murdering Constable Stephen Carroll in Craigavon in 2009.

At the original trial, a man known as Witness M said he had seen McConville near the scene of the shooting.

However, witness M’s father said his son was a “Walter Mitty” character. He said Witness M “liked to make up stories”.

McConville, 42, of Glenholme Avenue, Craigavon and Wootton, 22, from Colingdale, Lurgan, are serving life sentences for killing the police officer, who was ambushed and shot dead as he responded to a 999 call at Lismore Manor, Craigavon.