Top Irish republican charged with killing soldiers

[March 27, 2009]  LARNE, Northern Ireland (AP) -- A prominent Irish republican has been arraigned in Northern Ireland on charges of murdering two British soldiers.

Colin Duffy was arrested March 14, a week after a dissident IRA gun attack that killed two off-duty, unarmed soldiers outside an army base. The 41-year-old offered no plea Friday to two counts of murder, five of attempted murder and one of weapons possession in Larne Magistrates Court.

Dozens of Duffy's relatives and friends cheered, shouted and applauded as he was led from the courtroom, handcuffed to a policeman in body armor. He was denied bail pending his next court date April 21.

Earlier this week Northern Ireland's top judge ordered Duffy and five other suspected IRA dissidents freed from police custody. Duffy was immediately rearrested.

[Associated Press]

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