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7 August 1997 Edition

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RUC framed Duffy from the start

AN PHOBLACHT HAS LEARNED THAT WITHIN hours of the killing of two RUC officers in Lurgan in June the RUC were determined to fabricate a case against Lurgan man Collie Duffy who is now charged with the double killing.

A witness who lives near the scene of the shootings made a statement to the RUC about what she knew of the incident, although she didn't actually witness the shooting. However, while giving her statement, about four hours after the shooting, the RUC asked the woman if she knew Collie Duffy. The woman told the RUC that she didn't know Duffy but in the course of the interview the RUC men involved were aggressive when questioning her.

According to our source the two RUC detectives involved, one of whom is a senior RUC man from Lurgan, tried to get the woman to agree that one of those involved in the shooting in Church Walk, Lurgan on 16 June was in fact Duffy.

The woman faced some strident questioning about her husband as well; the RUC asked if he was a republican and if he knew Duffy. The woman was so stressed out by her experience that she broke down in tears afterwards and had to see her doctor. At no time was she under arrest.

Duffy is presently on remand charged with the killings on the word of a local woman whom the RUC have taken into protective custody. Local people say the woman is unreliable and that she has been pressurised by the RUC to falsely identify Duffy.
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