Ex-hitman tried to kill N.Irish Catholic leaders
BELFAST (AFP) — A convicted Protestant paramilitary hitman tried to murder the leaders of Northern Ireland's largest Catholic party inside the British province's parliament, a court heard Monday.
Michael Stone, 53, plotted to kill Sinn Fein president Gerry Adams and chief negotiator Martin McGuinness on the day the latter was designated as deputy first minister to the power-sharing government, Belfast Crown Court was told.
But Stone, who killed three people in a gun and grenade attack on the funeral of three Irish Republican Army (IRA) members in 1988, was foiled in his bid.
Security staff detained him in the revolving doors of the Stormont Assembly on November 24, 2006 as he tried to force his way inside, where members were meeting for the first time since a new agreement to share power was secured.
He faces a total of 14 charges, including the attempted murder of Adams and McGuinness, possessing home-made explosives, a garrotte, three knives and an axe and assaulting staff members.
Prosecutor Charles Adair told the court that after being arrested, Stone told police: "My intention was to walk into the debating chamber and look for where Adams, McGuinness and Sinn Fein were sitting."
"I would have lobbed several nail bombs to cause confusion. I planned to stab Adams and McGuinness and cut their throats."
Adair said Stone added: "I see Adams and McGuinness as republican war criminals. Adams and McGuinness don't deserve to be in a devolved government. It would be a bastardisation of democracy."
The former Ulster Defence Association hitman, who was released from prison under the terms of the 1998 Good Friday peace accord, was said to have added of the prospect of republicans being in government: "I just can't handle it."
He insisted he acted alone, calling himself a "dissident loyalist (pro-union with Britain) freelance", the court was told.
Stone has denied any intention to harm anyone and claimed his attack was "performance art". Experts in performance art have been secured to give evidence in his defence.
The case, which is being heard before a judge without a jury, continues.
