Adrian Ismay murder: Prison officer ‘got on well’ with man accused of his killing

A prison officer who died 11 days after a bomb exploded under his van spoke to police from his hospital bed and said he “never had cross words” with the man later accused of his murder.
By The Newsroom
Published 18th Jun 2019, 19:32 BST
Christopher Robinson applied to become a volunteer with St Johns Ambulance in 2010 and later worked with Adrian IsmayChristopher Robinson applied to become a volunteer with St Johns Ambulance in 2010 and later worked with Adrian Ismay
Christopher Robinson applied to become a volunteer with St Johns Ambulance in 2010 and later worked with Adrian Ismay

Adrian Ismay was rushed to the Royal Victoria Hospital on March 4, 2016 after a bomb detonated under his blue Volkswagen van as he was driving from his home in the Cregagh area of Belfast.

For around four years the 52-year-old father-of-three volunteered with St John’s Ambulance at the same time as west Belfast man Christopher Robinson, who is currently standing trial at Belfast Crown Court.

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Robinson, 48, from Aspen Park in Twinbrook, has been charged with murdering Mr Ismay, possessing an improvised explosive device and providing money or property for the purposes of terrorism.

Three days after the bomb exploded, police interviewed Mr Ismay as he lay injured in the Royal. From his hospital bed, Mr Ismay gave a statement confirming he knew Christopher Robinson.

He described his former fellow volunteer physically and said he spoke with a west Belfast accent. Mr Ismay told police: “The last time I seen him was more than two years ago when I worked for St John’s Ambulance based at Saintfield Road in Belfast.

“We both worked here as volunteers. I solely knew him on a work basis and never socialised with him. He had never been to my home and I had never been to his.

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“During the three to four years that I worked along with him we never had cross words, we never had any run-ins, we actually got on well. We never discussed any topics to do with religion or politics.

“I have been in the prison service for approximately 29 years, so I am pretty certain he would have been aware of my career.”

The non-jury Diplock trial heard Mr Ismay applied to become a volunteer with St John’s Ambulance in March 1998, with Robinson applying in February 2010. It also emerged that Mr Ismay was “involved” in Robinson’s application process “on behalf of” the organisation.

Tuesday’s sitting also heard a statement from Mark Watterson, the governor of the Northern Ireland Prison Service.

In his statement, Mr Watterson said Mr Ismay had never been posted to HMP Maghaberry, or had been involved in training in Roe House – the dissident wing at the prison.

At hearing.