Massereene murders: Colin Duffy found not guilty Colin Duffy has been acquitted at Antrim crown court of murdering two British soldiers. Photograph: Paul Faith/PA A veteran Irish republican is to walk free from Antrim crown court after a judge dismissed charges against him over the murder of two soldiers. The double killing of sappers Patrick Azimkar and Mark Quinsey in March 2009 marked the start of a renewed Real IRA terror campaign in Northern Ireland. Colin Duffy, 44, was due to be freed from court after the judge found that there was insufficient evidence to convict him of the murders. Duffy has always denied involvement in the fatal shooting, which happened outside the Massereene army barracks in Antrim town three years ago. His supporters denounced the case as a "show trial" designed to take Duffy off the streets. Much of the crown's evidence relied on DNA matching profiles. The prosecution said Duffy's DNA matched that found on the tip of a latex glove discovered inside the burnt-out Vauxhall used by the killers to flee the murder scene. A forensic scientist told the court the chances of Duffy's DNA not being matched to that on the glove was less than one in 1bn. But the judge ruled that there was not enough evidence to link Duffy to the sappers' deaths. The defence had argued that the DNA evidence may have been contaminated. Azimkar, 21, from north London, and 23-year-old Birmingham-born Quinsey died in the volley of shots directed at them, other soldiers and two pizza delivery men outside the base. The victims, who had been due to depart for service in Afghanistan hours after the attack, were wearing desert fatigue uniforms when they were caught in the ambush. During the trial, distressing CCTV images of the soldiers' final moments were played to the court. The trial witnessed the ruthless way in which two Real IRA hitmen dispatched their victims. The scenes were so graphic that some members of the soldiers' families left the court. Azimkar and Quinsey were hit with up to 60 bullets. The evidence also revealed a mobile phone call that appeared to show one of the two killers boasting about what they had done at the army base. In a taped message, the court heard a male voice say: "There were a few dead all right." Diplock judge Mr Justice Anthony Hart told Antrim crown court that he was satisfied that Duffy's DNA was found on a seat belt buckle of the car believed to have been used by the gunmen and on a latex glove tip, but that the prosecution had failed to link the defendant to the murder plot. I consider that there is insufficient evidence to satisfy me beyond reasonable doubt that, whatever Duffy may have done when he wore the latex glove or touched the seatbelt buckle, meant that he was preparing the car in some way for this murderous attack. And I therefore find him not guilty," the judge said. He said the prosecution had failed to link Duffy to the murder plot. Duffy is now due to be released from custody. He has been on remand in Maghaberry prison where he has been on a no-wash dirty protest against his continued incarceration.