A seventy-three-year-old man has appeared in court in relation to the attempted murder of former DCI John Caldwell.
The now-retired senior officer was shot while coaching a youth football team at a sports complex in Omagh on February 22, 2023.
It has since been disclosed that a previous failed attempt was made around two weeks beforehand at the same premises.
In the aftermath, the New IRA claimed responsibility for the attack, stating: “An active service unit was in position to target the enemy within our chosen kill zone, with our armed volunteers giving cover.”
Until this week, 16 men had been charged in connection with the incident, of whom seven are accused of attempted murder, with the rest facing various related allegations.
That number has now risen to 17 with the addition of John Charles Coleman, from Lakeview Cottages, Ardboe, who is charged with preparing for acts of terrorism and perverting the course of justice between February 21 and 24, 2023 by destroying a Ford Fiesta.
A 37-year-old man arrested alongside him was released pending a report to the PPS.
Coleman appeared by video-link from police custody and confirmed that he understood the charges against him.
A detective sergeant said the charges were connected.
He explained that the two men suspected of the shooting fled the scene in a blue Ford Fiesta, which was burnt out in Omagh immediately afterwards, and that a second identical car was similarly torched in Ardboe the next day.
Coleman was arrested and interviewed, but made largely “no comment” replies except to say he had seen a fire from his home at the time the vehicle was set alight.
He also denied having knowledge of anyone being in the IRA. However, police have discovered that he had visited co-accused Brian Carron in prison.
The case against him relates to engagement with other suspects, communications data, CCTV and phone movements.
Evidence shows that he attended the home of Mr Carron – who is charged with attempted murder – on the day of the shooting and engaged in a “walk-and-talk”, which is recognised as a counter-surveillance mechanism.
Police believe this meeting was to discuss the disposal of the second Ford Fiesta in the aftermath.
It is alleged that Coleman made numerous calls to scrapyards to have the vehicle disposed of, and when these were unsuccessful a decision was made to torch it in an industrial estate.
It is also contended that he transported two other suspects away from the fire.
Bail was not opposed, and Coleman was remanded in the sum of £1,000 with a £2,000 surety, to reside at an address approved by police.
He must not attend any meeting organised by dissident republican groups and is to report daily to the PSNI.
Coleman is also to surrender his passport and cannot leave Northern Ireland.
While he may possess one phone with internet access, he is banned from recording images of PSNI officers, members of the legal profession and court personnel.
The case will be mentioned again at Omagh Magistrates’ Court on December 9.
