Letterkenny man to face trial accused of attempting to murder police officer in Fermanagh

Two men accused of attempting to murder a student police officer in Co Fermanagh in 2009 will go on trial in the new year.
Ex-Irish Soldier Gerard James McManus from Letterkenny and Kevin Barry Nolan from Blacklion deny attempting to murder the student police officer, and possessing a gun with intent to endanger life in Garrison on 21 November, 2009.
28-year-old McManus, 28 from Fernhill, Letterkenny, and 35-year-old Nolan, of Main Street, Blacklion were detained during an undercover police operation at the time.
They will go on trial before a Diplock, no-jury judge at Belfast Crown Court in the new year.
Although no details surrounding the shooting or their arrests were given to the Crown Court, it was heard that the two accused claimed they had no intention of shooting the trainee officer, only to scare him.
McManus, wearing a balaclava allegedly went to the police officers front door, while Nolan remained in the front passenger seat of the Astra, found with a loaded Glock pistol.
McManus escaped, running down the side of the house firing off a shot. He was apprehended the following morning, in a garden shed.
A mask and gloves were found in the shed, but no gun was ever recovered. During interview, both men maintained they had no intention of harming the student police officer.