Paul McCauley who died in June last year nine years after he was viciously assaulted by a loyalist mob at a BBQ in the Waterside area of Derry
AN English man has appeared in court accused of withholding information about the murder of Paul McCauley.
Charles Buckingham, of 29 Nash Court Gardens, Margate, Kent, faces three charges of withholding information during his first appearance at Derry Magistrates’ Court today.
The charges read to the 61-year-old by the court clerk were that the:
(1) Defendant on the 16/12/2015 in the County Court Division of Derry having committed a relevant offence namely withholding information knowing or believing that offence or some other relevant offence namely Murder had been committed and had information which was likely to secure or to be of material assistance in securing the apprehension prosecution or conviction of some person for that offence without reasonable excuse failed to give that information within a reasonable time to a Constable contrary to Section 5(1) of the Criminal Law Act (Northern Ireland) 1967
(2) Defendant on the 16/12/2015 in the County Court Division of Derry having committed a relevant offence namely withholding information knowing or believing that offence or some other relevant offence namely GBH with intent had been committed and that you had information which was likely to secure or to be of material assistance in securing the apprehension prosecution or conviction of some person for that offence without reasonable excuse failed to give that information within a reasonable time to a Constable.
(3) Defendant That you on the 16/12/2015 in the County Court Division of Derry having committed a relevant offence namely Withholding information knowing or believing that offence or some other relevant offence namely Attempted GBH with intent had been committed and that you had information which was likely to secure or to be of material assistance in securing the apprehension prosecution or conviction of some person for that offence without reasonable excuse failed to give that information within a reasonable time to a Constable.
It is alleged that that Buckingham failed to report to police a conversation he had in a car with a man called “Gillen” who claimed to have been involved a “murder”.
Buckingham was released on bail and his case was adjourned until June 8.
He was banned by District Judge Barney McElhome from having any contact with Piper John McClements or Matthew Gillen (pictured below) who are currently charged with with Mr McCauley’s murder.
The 38-year-old father died last June, nine years after he was attacked at a barbeque on the Chapel Road in 2006 by a loyalist mob.
Detectives from the PSNI’s Major Investigation Team launched a murder inquiry after his death and have over a dozen arrests in recent months as they try to bring all those involved in Paul’s brutal sectarian murder to court and face justice.
Matthew Gillen leaving Derry court last month after being released on bail for the murder of Paul McCauley. (North West Newspix)