A DERRY man has pleaded guilty to five offences relating to murder bids on members of the security forces and impeding the arrest of the IRA killers of a Catholic policeman.
Christopher Paul O'Kane (42), of Woodland Avenue in the city, was due to stand trial on Thursday at Belfast Crown Court on a total of 17 Provisional IRA related offences, including an attempt to murder a senior RUC officer more than two decades ago.
But in a dramatic development, defence counsel Mark Mulholland told Judge Gordon Kerr QC that his client intended to plead guilty.
Standing in the dock on Thursday dressed in a green coat with arms folded throughout the proceedings, O'Kane replied "guilty'' when the five charges were put to him.
These included:
:: Assisting an offender in relation to the murder of Constable Michael Ferguson in January 1994
:: Firing a horizontal mortar bomb at a police vehicle in Fanad Drive in October 1993.
:: Planting a bomb at the railway line at Ebrington Barracks in December 1993
:: Placing a bomb on the windowsill of the home of a senior police officer at Prehen in 1994
:: Planting a bomb at the boat jetty at Fort George army base in Derry.
Prosecution lawyer Robin Steer asked that the remaining 12 charges - including membership of the Provisional IRA - "be left on the books" and not to be proceeded without the leave of the Court or the Court of Appeal.
Judge Kerr QC adjourned sentencing O'Kane until Wednesday, December 16.
