Eamonn O'Boyle arrest branded 'politically led policing at its most sinister'

The charging of a Gweedore with causing an explosion in Randalstown in 1990 has been branded 'politically led policing at its most sinister'.

Eamonn O’Boyle, a 53-year-old builder and property developer, faces two charges in connection with the blast that badly damaged a garage in Randalstown, Co Antrim, in November 1990.

O’Boyle was charged with causing the explosion at French’s garage in New Street, Randalstown, at around 10.45pm on November 25 1990, and possessing explosives with intent to endanger life.

“The arrest and charging of Eamonn O’Boyle, with causing an explosion in Randalstown 32 years ago, must be condemned as politically led policing at its most sinister,” Independent County Councillor Micheál Choilm Mac Giolla Easbuig said.

Man charged with 1990 bombing in Northern Ireland went on the run, court hears

“If the British state had ever felt the need to arraign Eamonn O’Boyle, it has had 32 years to do so.

“Why no extradition demand? Moreover, Mr O’Boyle has been a regular visitor to his native County Antrim over the past decades and it defies credulity that the PSNI was unaware of his presence. Why no arrest during those years?

“Nor is there convincing evidence to connect Eamonn O’Boyle with the explosion. His defence solicitor has questioned the value of the forensic evidence and pointed out that identification evidence was 'inconsistent'.”

Having been arrested when he arrived on a flight at Belfast International Airport earlier in the week, O'Boyle appeared before District Judge Nigel Broderick at Antrim Magistrates' Court by videolink from a police custody suite in Belfast.

A PSNI detective chief inspector told the court he could connect O’Boyle to the counts.

The officer said security forces stopped the accused at a checkpoint 'driving at speed' away from the location of the bomb around 40 minutes before the explosion.

The court heard the passenger in the car was arrested the following day and went on to plead guilty to involvement in the bombing. He was sentenced to 12 years in prison.

He said O’Boyle was seen exchanging clothes with another man by UDR soldiers 15 minutes after the blast.
The officer said when police visited O’Boyle’s home the following day he appeared to have fled

The accused’s solicitor, Mr Peter Corrigan, from Belfast-based solicitors’ firm Phoenix Law, challenged the connection with the case, claiming there were several 'deficiencies' with the evidence.

The solicitor also questioned how the forensic evidence had been stored in the years since it was taken.

“There’s been no care taken in relation to the integrity of the exhibit,” he said.

Mr Corrigan said the quantity of explosive traces found in the car was not known.

The lawyer also said there was no evidence linking the explosive traces to the bomb itself.
He insisted the case should be discontinued.

Judge Broderick said he was satisfied that sufficient evidence had been presented to connect O’Boyle to the counts. He granted bail on terms agreed by the defence and prosecution.

O’Boyle was charged by detectives from the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Legacy Investigation Branch.

Mac Giolla Easbuig said: “This well-publicised arrest was carried out at a time when the British government’s controversial legacy bill is being debated in the House of Lords.

“This bill is drawing intense criticism from many quarters including the North’s Victims Commissioner Ian Jeffers, who called for it to be withdrawn.

“The British government is undoubtedly attempting to curtail opposition to its proposed legacy legislation by this undisguised threat to the entire republican community.

“Therefore, not only must we offer support to Eamonn and his family but I am now calling on the Dublin government to immediately intervene and condemn this cynical attempt by the British government to pursue political objectives through such a blatant abuse of police power.”

O’Boyle was required to provide his own bail of £950 and a further cash surety of £5,000.
He was ordered to surrender all travel documents and must reside at his address in Gweedore while on bail. The judge told him he also has to sign on at Gweedore Garda station twice a week.
The case was listed again for January 24. O’Boyle was excused from attending that hearing.