Police make new appeal on anniversary of murder of Stephen Warnock

By Jonathan McCambridge, PA

Detectives have made a new appeal for information about the murder of a man in front of his daughter in Co Down 22 years ago.

Stephen Warnock, 35, died when he was shot a number of times in his car while driving on the Circular Road in Newtownards at approximately 11.30am on September 13th 2002.

At the time it was widely reported that Mr Warnock had been murdered as part of a loyalist feud.

A PSNI spokesperson said: “Mr Warnock was driving his blue BMW car along Circular Road with his young daughter in the back seat of the car when he stopped due to traffic.

“At this time a motorcycle with rider and pillion passenger pulled alongside the car and shots were fired into the car.

“Stephen sustained a number of gunshot wounds and tragically died at the scene.

“Thankfully, Stephen’s daughter escaped injury.

“Following the shooting the motorcycle sped off in the direction of Belfast where it was recovered burnt out later the same day at Chelsea Street in east Belfast.

“This was a savage and reckless attack on a defenceless man and we are exploring a number of potential motives for the murder.”

The PSNI has appealed for anyone who may have been on Circular Road or in the general area before or after the murder and who may have information to speak to detectives.

The spokesperson continued: “Twenty-two years have now passed since this senseless killing.

“I ask those who were involved, or heard accounts of what happened, either in the immediate aftermath or indeed over the years, to think about the devastating effect this has had on Stephen’s family, and to come forward and make themselves known to police.”

Anyone with information can contact detectives in Legacy Investigation Branch on 101 or LIBEnquiries@psni.pnn.police.uk.