A COURT has thrown out charges of attempted murder against a prominent Co Tyrone republican after the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) withdrew from the case.
Pomeroy man David Jordan (45) was accused of trying to kill a Catholic PSNI officer in May 2008.
The off-duty officer suffered serious leg injuries after a bomb detonated under his car near Castlederg as he drove to work in an attack later claimed by the Real IRA.
Last month Mr Jordan was appointed as the first chairman of newly established anti-agreement political party Saoradh - which is Irish for liberation.
The case against the 45-year-old was discontinued after the PPS withdrew the case during a hearing in Strabane yesterday.
Mr Jordan was charged along with Omagh man Gavin Coyle last December, months after being released from Portlaoise Prison where he had served a sentence for possession of a gun.
Both men faced further counts of causing an explosion likely to endanger life and membership of the IRA.
Prosecutors had claimed they were involved in a joint enterprise to try to kill the policeman.
The charges against Mr Coyle remain in place.
Speaking to the Irish News last night Mr Jordan, who denied any part in the attack, said he was previously questioned about it in 2008 and released without charge.
He described the decision to charge him as “vindictive” .
Bail conditions imposed on Mr Jordan included a ban on having a mobile phone or accessing the internet.
He was also ordered to report to the PSNI daily, abide by a curfew and wear an electronic tag.
He described the timing of his arrest as “suspicious”.
“It put me off the road for ten and a half months,” he said.
“I feel it is part of a campaign on the part of the British to stabilise the six counties.
“Any vocal opposition to the status quo in the six counties is met by internment by remand and stringent and draconian bail conditions.”
Mr Jordan’s solicitor Peter Corrigan revealed that he made a detailed oral submission to the court two week’s ago.
He said he highlighted the “deficiencies of the prosecution evidence and it did not amount to a case to answer evidentially”.
The solicitor also raised concerns about the bail conditions imposed on Mr Jordan.
“Stringent bail conditions were imposed on a case that should never have been brought in the first place evidentially,” he said.
A spokesman for the PPS said a file was submitted to it in March.
“Following careful consideration of all of the available evidence it was decided that a prosecution would proceed in relation to one of the individuals for the offences of attempted murder, causing an explosion to endanger life and belonging to a proscribed organisation," he said.
“A decision was taken not to prosecute the second individual due to insufficient evidence.
“As this matter is now before the courts, it would be inappropriate for the PPS to make any further comment.”
