A senior detective who survived an attempted murder bid earlier this year attended a garden party at Hillsborough Castle with the King and Queen.
Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell was shot several times at a sports centre in Omagh, Co Tyrone, in February. This was his first public appearance since the attack. It is understood that he had a private audience with the King ahead of the event.
Mr Caldwell, who was critically ill for some time at Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry, was left with life-changing injuries. He was discharged from hospital last month to continue his recovery at home.
READ MORE: LIVE updates as King and Queen visit Northern Ireland
Earlier this month, Detective Superintendent Eamonn Corrigan, who is leading the attempted murder inquiry, told the BBC “significant progress” has been made in the investigation, but did not give any further details.
Mr Corrigan said: “All the detectives working on the case know the importance of CCTV and the fact that a 15 or 20-second piece of footage could be crucial in building a case. An attack of this nature is carried out by multiple people who are organised.
“We are looking for movements of people and vehicles over time. It is time consuming and a lot of patience is required.”
While the New IRA has admitted responsibility for the attack, Mr Corrigan said police believe the group may have been aided by a criminal gang.
“Whether these people are members of a terrorist organisation or an organised crime organisation, this has been an attack on a serving police officer at the behest of the New IRA,” he said.
“How they carry out their operations and support them logistically is not for me to decide. I will follow the evidence and bring people who are responsible before the courts.”
Mr Corrigan said Mr Caldwell is “making a good recovery but it is going to be a long road”, telling the BBC: “We are lucky John didn’t die.”
READ NEXT:
- NI terror threat level severe as "dissidents desperate for a kill"
- Suspended officers cost PSNI over £2.6million in one year
- Police investigating John Caldwell shooting seize clothing in Co Tyrone
- NI policing in "full-blown crisis" as cuts loom
For all the latest news, visit the Belfast Live homepage here and sign up to our daily newsletter here.
