Killer’s bail address is sandwich bar

The 37-year-old served 11 years of a life sentence for murdering innocent Trevor Lowry, who he mistook for a Catholic. Now free, he is back in trouble and facing separate charges of assaulting police and drink-driving. He appeared in court on the assault charges last Friday.

In both cases, Craig has given his bail address as Unit 43D in the Park Centre shopping complex in west Belfast, which is a Subway sandwich shop.

When this newspaper visited the tiny franchise store last weekend, a member of staff said he had never heard of Craig and that it only had three employees.

Subway has refused to comment on the matter, which raises serious questions about the veracity of police and court bail approvals.

Magistrates in Belfast have previously accepted a park bench in Botanic Gardens and a motorway underpass as bail addresses for homeless defendants.

It is understood that Craig provided a residential address when arrested by the PSNI earlier this year. However, this has now been changed via the courts to the Park Centre Subway counter, which is so small it does not have an inside seating area and is shuttered every night at 9pm.

A PSNI spokeswoman said: “A 37-year-old man who appeared in court on Friday was released on police bail in May to a residential address.”

Last month, Sunday Life revealed how Craig was causing mayhem in a quiet apartment block in the Monkstown area of Newtownabbey, where he is terrifying residents.

According to neighbours, he has been feuding with rival criminals, including a knife-wielding gang which tried to force its way into his apartment, smashing a window and damaging the front door. They have also reported hearing the murderer having blistering rows with a female.

Locals expressed surprise that Craig resettled in Newtownabbey after being freed from prison, given that is where the family of his victim Trevor Lowry live. The innocent dad-of-two was attacked while walking home from the pub following a night out in Glengormley, a village within the borough.

Also convicted of the killing was UDA thug Harry Speers, who died in prison. The pair mistook the 49-year-old for a Catholic and kicked him repeatedly on the head.

Craig denied involvement, but was found guilty by a jury, with trial judge Mr Justice Girvan branding him a “liar”.

It emerged that he had given his bloodied trainers to friends to dispose of, telling police he was wearing different footwear on the night of the murder.

In 2014, Craig lost his job at the Timpson repair shop in the centre of Belfast after bosses claimed he failed to disclose the full nature of his conviction.

Although he served 11 years in prison, the sectarian killer remains on licence for the rest of his life, meaning he can be returned to prison at any time.

Parole Commissioners have not yet pursued this option
despite Craig facing new charges of assaulting police and drink-driving.

cbarnes@sundaylife.co.uk