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Police appeal for information on 22nd anniversary of ‘savage and reckless’ murder of loyalist Stephen Warnock

35-year-old was shot dead in front of young daughter in September 2002

Stephen Warnock, inset, and forensics at his car in 2002
Stephen Warnock was shot dead in Newtownards in September 2002

Police have renewed an appeal for information on the 22nd anniversary of the murder of an LVF man in Co Down that sparked a loyalist feud.

Stephen Warnock, who was 35, was shot dead in Newtownards on September 13, 2002, in front of his three-year-old daughter.

He was struck a number of times while sitting in his blue BMW at a traffic light at Circular Road.

A motorcycle rider with a pillion passenger had pulled up alongside the car

His daughter was in the rear seat of the vehicle, but escaped injury.

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The motorcycle used in the slaying was later found burnet out in the Chelsea Street area of east Belfast.

PACEMAKER BELFAST  archive 2002
13/09/2024
Detectives from Legacy Investigation Branch, reviewing the murder of 35 year old Stephen Warnock, in Newtownards in 2002, are appealing for information on the 22nd anniversary of his murder.

Stephen died after being shot a number of times in his car while driving on the Circular Road in Newtownards at approximately 1130 am on 13th September 2002.

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. 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.

“Today I am appealing 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.

Detective Chief Inspector Byrne continued: “22 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.”
Stephen Warnock. PICTURE: PACEMAKER

The murder happened during a period of heightened tensions between loyalist paramilitary groups, that led to the UDA expelling west Belfast ‘brigadier’ Johnny Adair.

The attempted killing of leading east Belfast UDA man Jim Gray less than a week later, in which he survived being shot in the face in the Garnerville area, was linked to the murder of Mr Warnock.

Mr Gray was later shot dead in October 2005, months after being expelled from the UDA.



Speaking of the killing of Mr Warnock, Detective Chief Inspector Byrne from the PSNI’s Legacy Investigation Branch said: ”This was a savage and reckless attack on a defenceless man and we are exploring a number of potential motives for the murder.

”Today I am appealing 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.

“22 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.”