Danny McColgan inquest:Witness UDA shot postman 10 times

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Danny McColgan inquest: Witness 'saw UDA shoot postman 10 times'

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A postman who witnessed paramilitaries kill one of his colleagues at their workplace has described the attack to an inquest into the 2002 murder.

Danny McColgan a 20-year-old Catholic postal worker, was shot dead by the Ulster Defence Association (UDA).

He had just arrived for work at a Royal Mail sorting office in Rathcoole, on the outskirts of north Belfast.

His colleague Paul McCullough told the inquest he saw gunmen fire eight shots and another two shots at close range.

'In tears'
The witness said the gunmen, who were both wearing dark clothing and had their faces covered, ran off towards a waiting car after the shooting.

Mr McCullough said he found Mr McColgan lying in a pool of blood and gasping for breath outside the sorting office.

Another of Mr McColgan's colleagues, John Miskimmon, was in tears in the witness box as his statement was read to the court.

Mr Miskimmon was the assistant manager of the sorting office at the time of the murder.

'Deep breath'

He said he heard the shots being fired and said that after the gunmen fled, he went to where Mr McColgan lay dying.

He said he tried to get a response, but told the inquest that all happened was: "Danny took a long deep breath."

No-one has ever been convicted of the murder

The inquest continues.

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Coroner 'incredulous' at disappearing evidence in McColgan murder inquiry

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A Coroner at the inquest of Catholic postman Danny McColgan who was shot dead 12 years ago has said that he is ‘incredulous’ why bullet casing taken as evidence in the murder went missing.

Danny McColgan was shot 13 times 2002 as he arrived for work at a Royal Mail sorting office in Rathcoole, County Antrim.

He was just 20 years old.

The aspiring DJ was murdered by the UFF.

Coroner John Leckey described the killing as a “brutal sectarian murder”.

Last week the Sunday World reported on how the Coroner’s Court heard that the cameras in the Royal Mail depot were not working at the time of the murder.

The court also heard that the bullet casings used in the attack were lost on their way to England.

And the British Government as well as security services have slapped a ban on certain pieces of evidence being brought forward to the court.

Last week we exclusively revealed that the CCTV system had only been put in place at the depot as it was feared that an attack on a postal worker was imminent.

Postal staff who worked at the depot at the time came forward to the Sunday World to say that there was no reason for the cameras to be switched off at the time of Danny’s murder.

They told us: “The big question that remains unanswered din all of this is who had access to the control unit for the CCTV cameras and recorders?

“That was never mentioned at the inquest and no reason was given for the CCTV equipment having been switched off.”

In reference to the missing bullet casings, Mr Leckey said: “It must be a matter of great concern that exhibits in an unsolved murder should have disappeared.

“I am really incredulous that that should have happened.

"I hope very much that those responsible for Daniel's murder will be apprehended. I hope very much that Daniel's murderers will be held to account."

On the issue of the CCTV unit being inoperative at the time of the murder, Mr Leckey said: "From the evidence given at the inquest I am unable to reach any conclusion, on the balance of probabilities, as to whether those who planned the murder and the gunmen were aware that the camera was inoperative.

"Also, I am unable to reach any conclusion, again on the balance of probabilities, as to whether any member or members of the workforce at the sorting office provided any information or assistance to those involved in the murder.

"However, I am satisfied that careful planning had preceded this sectarian murder which included the acquisition of knowledge at the time Daniel was due to commence work that day."