Stone 'intended to slit the throats' of Sinn Fein leaders

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The two security guards restrain Michael Stone outside Stormont

Security guard restrains Michael Stone at the Stormont door

F****** evacuate. It will go off. You will go up with it.

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

By Emily Moulton

Milltown killer Michael Stone planned to "slit the throats" of Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness on the day he stormed Parliament Buildings, a Belfast court heard yesterday.

On the opening day of the trial against the 53-year-old, Crown prosecutor Charles Adair QC, told Belfast's Crown Court that the former UDA gunman had told police he had gone to Stormont that morning on his own with the purpose of assasinating the Sinn Fein leader and Deputy First Minister because he could not "handle" them being part of a power-sharing government as he regarded them as "republican war criminals".

He also allegedly said he found it "unbelievable" that Ian Paisley, the man he claimed had told him "his whole life" to distrust them, would share power with the pair and he was acting as a " dissident loyalist freelance".

Stone, of no fixed address, appeared in court yesterday charged with 14 offences, including two counts of attempted murder as well as possession of explosives, three knives, an axe and a garotte and having an imitation firearm.

He denies all the charges and claims his actions during the opening session of the newly formed Northern Ireland Assembly on November 24, 2006 were " performance art".

During the hearing, Mr Adair told the court that the 53-year-old, who was responsible for the 1988 Milltown Cemetery bombings in which three people attending a republican funeral died, had planned his attack in advance and even tested "similar" devices.

He also said Stone told police that he never intended to hurt anyone else and that the bag containing several devices including nail and pipe bombs, were meant to be a diversion, to allow him to make his way to the debating chamber where he could have a "crack" at Mr Adams and Mr McGuinness.

The court heard that Stone wore a bulletproof vest, had strapped several knives and an axe to his body, which he planned to use against the Sinn Fein MLAs, and planned to "give himself up" once he carried out his mission.

"He planned this for some time," Mr Adair told the court. " He armed himself with devices, he even tested the explosive devices as part of his preparation. He would have made his way to the debating chamber where he would have thrown and ignited further devices, where ultimately he planned to assassinate Mr Adams and Mr McGuinness.

"The attempt failed because of the bravery of security staff at the entrance of the building."

Mr Adair said Stone was kneed in the groin and the imitation fire arm wrestled from him by security guard Sue Porter and a colleague. Stone shouted: "F****** evacuate. It will go off," the court heard. Ms Porter responded: "You will go up with it." Stone responded: " What the f***?"

Mr Adair said Stone - who suffers severe arthritis and walks with a crutch - spent two hours working his way through the Stormont grounds to the entrance of Parliament Buildings before he launched his attack.

After being trapped by a security guard in the doors of Stormont he lit a fuse in the bag and threw it into the hall, shouting it was a bomb. The device, which was meant to explode in 21 seconds, malfunctioned after getting wet on the journey to the building.

Arthur Harvey QC, defending Stone, said his team intended to use DVD evidence to back Stone's assertion that his actions were performance art and requested the courtroom be made available to allow Stone to view evidence.

Mr Justice Deeny granted the application and adjourned the trial until Monday, May 19.