POLICE have issued a new appeal into the savage murder of a leading loyalist in Newtownards 22 years ago.
Thirty five year-old Stephen Warnock was shot dead on September 13, 2002, in front of his three year-old daughter as he sat in his blue BMW car at a traffic light at Circular Road.
Mr Warnock was shot a number of times and died at the scene of the attack. The young girl was uninjured.
Detectives from the PSNI’s Legacy Investigation Branch have issued the new appeal for information which a senior officer has described as a ‘savage and reckless attack’.
Detective Chief Inspector Byrne, from Legacy Investigation Branch, 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,” said Mr Byrne. “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,” he added.
Chief Inspector Byrne 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 with police.
He 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. You can also submit a report online using our non-emergency reporting form via www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org/.
