Adrian Ismay murder accused found GUILTY

By Q Radio News

A west Belfast man accused of murdering prison officer Adrian Ismay four years ago has been found GUILTY.

Christopher Alponsus Robinson (49), from Aspen Walk in Twinbrook, had denied the murder as well as possessing explosives and providing a car for terrorism.

During the non-jury Crown court trial the court heard the car used to transport the bomb belonged to the accused's brother. 

(Christopher Alponsus Robinson, from Aspen Walk in Twinbrook)

The evening before the explosion, Robinson picked up the Citroen from his brother's west Belfast workplace, and the vehicle was used to transport the bomb left under Mr Ismay's van.

52 year old Mr Ismay a father of three had just left his east Belfast home when the bomb exploded.

He was driving along Hillsborough Drive on March the 4th, 2016 when the the blast was triggered as he drove over a speed ramp.

Robinson was arrested after the explosion and during his non-jury trial  it emerged  the men worked together as volunteers for St John Ambulance.

(The scene of the bomb explosion at Hillsborough Drive in east Belfast)

Christopher Robinson shrugged as he was handed a life sentence by Mr Justice McAlinden who said he was "compelled to conclude" that the accused was "intimately and inextricably involved" in the terrorist operation that led to Mr Ismay's death.

The Judge told Robinson he will determine the minimum length of time he will have to serve before being considered eligible for release at a later date.

As the family and friends of Mr Ismay sat in the public gallery, Robinson was then led from the court in handcuffs by prison staff.

During the non-jury trial, it emerged that the two men knew each other as they worked together as volunteers for St John's Ambulance.

The 52-year old prison officer had just left his east Belfast home and was driving along Hillsborough Drive at around 7am on March 4, 2016 when a device planted under his van detonated after he went over a speed ramp.

Despite appearing to make a good recovery from shraphnel injuries, the father of three died 11 days after the bomb exploded.

Robinson was arrested two days after the explosion and denied any involvement in the incident.

During the course of 16 interviews, he refused to answer questions, but in a pre-prepared statement he denied being a member of a proscribed organisation.

He was subsequently charged with murder, possessing explosives and providing property - namely a red Citroen CS - for the purposes of terrorism.

It was the Crown's case that car in question, which was registered to Robinson's sister-in-law, was the vehicle used to transport the improvised explosive device to east Belfast.

The prosecution made the case that evening before the explosion, Robinson picked up the Citroen from his brother's west Belfast workplace, and that this vehicle was used to transport the device left under Mr Ismay's van.

The Crown's claims were denied by Robinson, with his defence team making the case that the only evidence against him was circumstantial.

Arthur Harvey QC said the Crown had failed to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt, and had failed to provide any evidence to establish a connect between the Citroen and Robinson "on the evening of the 3rd of March 2016 or the morning of the 4th of March, 2016."

However, in a detailed ruling that took over four hours to be delivered, Mr Justice McAlinden said he had examined the "individual strands of evidence" and concluded Robinson was guilty of the murder charge, and of possessing explosives with intent to endanger life.

The Judge "made no finding" on the charge of providing property for terrorism

In his ruling, Mr Justice McAlinden highlighted several "key issues" which he felt required "specific consideration."

This included Robinson's DNA which was found on a Poppy Appeal sticker the Judge ruled had been stuck on the Citreon's windscreen in a "cynical ploy" to make the vehicle transporting the bomb "less conspicious in the area where the attack was to take place."

Another strand, the Judge said, was Robinson's internet and social media activity both before and after the bomb blast.

Pointing out Robinson checked news sites a total of 80 times in a five-and-a-half hour period in the aftermath of the explosion, Mr Justice McAlinden said this demonstrated an "intense and enduring interest ... that can only be explained by the defendant's prior knowledge of and intimate involvement in the planned attack."

Other points of relevant, the Judge concluded, was Robinson's support for violent Irish Republicanism and Irish Republican prisoners.

The Judge said Robinson's social media use also highlighted a "strong disapproval" of the PSNI, the Prison Service and Sinn Fein.

Mr Justice McAlinden said this provided a "cogent and compelling explanation for his intimate and inextricable involvement in the attack upon Mr Ismay."

Regarding the murder, Mr Justice McAlinden said it was his view that Robinson "arranged for and facilitated the use of his sister-in-law's motor vehicle for the purpose of transporting the bomb and bomber to Hillsborough Drive, and for the purpose of transporting the bomber away from the scene again."

He concluded by saying the evidence in the trial established "beyond a reasonable doubt" that Robinson was intimately and inextricably involved" in the terror plot that resulted in the death of Adrian Ismay.