Shooting victim Joe Clarke denied justice

Oct 17 2010 by Kerry Wood, Sunday Sun

SHOOTING victim Joe Clarke today reveals he has had to flee his home fearing his attackers are still on the loose and could hunt him down.

The terrified 33-year-old’s life was turned into a nightmare nearly three years ago when he opened his door to find two men on his front lawn brandishing a sawn-off shotgun.

He was left with serious wounds when they opened fire, riddling Mr Clarke’s back with 150 metal pellets.

But following a huge investigation, an attempted murder trial fell apart and a judge criticised the actions of officers and branding their attitude towards the case as “cavalier”.

Now, despite fearing for his safety, Mr Clarke has decided to speak out after the Sunday Sun revealed four officers on the Durham Force are to be interviewed under caution on their role in procedures which led to the collapse of last year’s crown court trial.

Speaking from a secret location, Mr Clarke said: “My life since I was shot has been hell. I feel as though I’m the only one serving a sentence because of what happened and there’ll be no justice until those who shot me are caught.

“After the shooting I was in police protection but then I was found by those responsible. They seemed to know what I was doing before I did and I made the decision to move away.

“I’ve been shot at and had to leave my family because of what has happened.”

Five men and women were charged in connection with an attempted murder plot but the case fell apart because of the actions of investigating officers.

A judge ruled their behaviour in raiding defence solicitor Paul Donoghue’s home was cavalier and that in overhearing a conversation between the solicitor and his client police had made a “deliberate breach of legal professional privilege.” With the gang cleared of all charges no one else has ever been charged in connection with the shooting and the case is not being actively pursued.

More than three years on since the doorstep attack, Mr Clarke believes he is the only one truly paying the price for the hit.

Clearly distressed at the lack of justice he’s seen, he added: “I’m the only one paying for what happened, not those who shot me. I’m prone to abscesses and need tests to see if my kidneys are failing.

“But the mental side-effects are much worse than the physical injuries. Three years on I’m still getting nightmares, I can’t sleep and I can’t go out in crowds. I’ve had to move away from my family and home just to be safe.”

Mr Clarke was gunned down on an overcast day in County Durham days before Christmas 2007. Opening his front door he found two men on the lawn brandishing a sawn-off shotgun. Following a dispute they opened fire riddling Mr Clarke’s back with 150 metal pellets.

Fleeing for his life he run down the residential street of Fairways before being helped inside by a resident living nearby.

Mr Clarke now faces a lifetime of health problems. Doctors have told the former oil-rig worker it’s too dangerous to operate and remove metal pellets still lodged in his heart.

He expects to spend the rest of his life on medication and needs regular checks to test if his organs are starting to fail. Mr Clarke said medics believe the attack has shortened his life by 25 years.

Following the collapse of the trial Mr Donoghue called for an independent review into the actions of Durham Police.

After a year-long investigation the Independent Police Complaints Commission has announced it’s to formally interview four officers next month before deciding whether to refer the case to the Crown Prosecution Service.

Last night Mr Clarke said: “I didn’t know anything about it but hopefully some action will be taken. I feel let down by Durham Police because of how the trial ended. For no one to be tried for what happened is a joke.”

A Durham Police spokesman confirmed the case was not at this stage being actively pursued. They added: “However, should new and compelling evidence come to light the situation can always be re-assessed.”