Killer Glen Stronge
Deranged killer Glen Stronge is fighting for his life after overdosing on drugs as his brother Graeme is facing drug supply charges.
The former soldier from Clabby, who blasted 27-year-old Catholic Colin Foy in the back of the head in the Four Ways Inn in Fivemiletown in 2001, was hospitalised after popping pills.
Killer Stronge 39, has a long history of drug abuse and drink dependency and had been drinking the day he inexpicably pulled the trigger on his hapless victim.
After shooting Mr Foy, Stronge carried on drinking, chatting with his brother and waving his gun at horrified onlookers shouting “Does anyone else want a bit of this?” before handing himself over to police.
The killer was a serving Lance Corporal in the Royal Irish Regiment at the time of the killing which is believed to have been driven by sectarian hatred.
He pleaded guilty to the young man’s manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility, but only served four and a half years and was released from jail in 2005.
The ex-squaddie has been in constant trouble with the law ever since. During a court appearance in Dungannon two years ago for driving while drunk while holding a baby on his lap his criminal record was described as “frightening.”
Last night his brother Graeme Stronge was banged up inside Maghaberry Prison awaiting trial for a series of drug offences, which he has already admitted to cops.
Last week he appeared in court via video link to apologise to District Judge Nigel Broderick who, at a previous hearing at Strabane Magistrates Court, he had threatened and called a’ Fenian b*****d’.
The 33-year-old had been charged with attempting to obtain diazepam and attempting to unlawfully supply. He was also charged with the unlawful possession of cannabis.
At the time of his court appearance his killer brother was in hospital after overdosing on drugs. Drugs were found by police in his hospital room.
Outlining the circumstances of Graeme Stronge’s arrest, a policewoman revealed how staff at Clogher Post Office alerted police last Wednesday to a suspicious package addressed to ‘GG Stronge’ at Camgart Road.
Police seized the package and found it to contain around 3,000 diazepam tablets. Stronge was subsequently arrested and during a search of his home quantities of small, clear plastic bags and cannabis resin were found.
Three mobile phones were also seized.
Graeme Stronge was on bail in relation to on-going investigations into the discovery of 3,200 diazepam tablets in two separate incidents earlier this year.
Objecting to bail the policewoman said police believed there was a “strong likelihood” of re-offending.
The officer said that during interview Graeme Stronge “openly admitted” that he made £1,000 per week dealing drugs and boasted that police hadn’t found the Class A drugs that were hidden in his house.
The District Judge said it was a serious case and refused to release Stronge on bail.
As he was led from the dock he shouted at the policewoman: “You’re one lying bastard – you bitch”, adding “I’ll f--king see you later!”
Turning to the District Judge he shouted: “See you judge, you don’t have a f--king clue! I’ll f--king get you!” and called him a “Fenian
bastard”.
The Judge remanded him to appear at Fermanagh Court last Monday where he then apologised for his behaviour.
The lawyer explained that Stronge was taking five different types of prescribed medication including diazepam and another drug that are “stabilisers and calmers”. However, he had not had access to these at the time of his outburst.
He was remanded in custody on the drugs charges to appear again at Fermanagh Court by video link tomorrow.
Meanwhile his psycho brother Glen is still being treated in hospital after a near fatal overdose. Criminal sources have told us the killer had become hopelessly addicted to narcotics and that his behaviour had become increasingly erratic.
At the time of Colin Foy’s murder Stronge was suffering from depression and was drinking heavily. Two years earlier he had suffered a brain injury in a road accident which affected his ability to control aggression, a condition which resulted in him having to surrender his personal firearm. The following year his twin brothers were killed in a road accident, which added greatly to his depression and reliance on drink.
In 2011 the murder victim’s family claimed the Army failed to investigate how the killer came to be carrying a gun as it was revealed prior to the shooting the weapon had been taken off him because of concerns over Stronge’s mental health.
At his trial the court heard that Stronge “found it straight forward to request his gun back”. He was examined by a psychiatrist and the weapon returned to him.
After shooting Mr. Foy in the back of the head and neck as he sat chatting with his brother, Fergal, in the hotel bar before Stronge called a taxi and handing himself into Clogher Police Station.
Stronge never offered an explanation as to why he killed Mr Foy yet is was believed he was singled out for assassination because he was Catholic.