Jealousy led to farmer's murder
THE News Letter is examining some of this decade's most mysterious unsolved murders in Northern Ireland.
In the first of a series of deaths, the 2004 murder of Claudy farmer,Patrick Devine, is explored in more detail.
REVEALING his belief that sheep farmer Patrick Devine was murdered in a contract killing, the detective who took over the murder investigation last May has appealed for help in tracing the murder weapon.
Detective Chief Inspector Gary Crawford said that the INLA had been paid money by a group of farmers to carry out the murder.
Both Patrick and his brother, Aidan, had been assaulted – attacks which police have linked to the murder – but those responsible were unwilling to stop at beatings and were prepared to pay for Patrick's murder.
"There had been disputes with other farmers over allegations of sheep going missing and disputes about land," he said.
"Patrick was a wealthy man who had built his wealth up through hard work over many years.
"I believe that people were jealous of him and there were other petty squabbles?"
Mr Crawford said that the disputes, culminating in Patrick's "barbaric" slaying, were "totally unwarranted".
"He could be a gruff individual – he called a spade a spade – and the arguments ran very deep in a small section of the community."
And, speaking from his office at the PSNI's heavily fortified Maydown complex, where the major investigation team for the north west is based, Mr Crawford appealed for those who know intimate details of what happened to come forward.
He said that individuals with information could call the confidential Crimestoppers' number to leave information or call the Maydown complex and ask to speak with him directly.
"We know that it has been talked about widely in the community.
"There are ways and means of getting information to the police and I would appeal for people to tell us what they know.
"Anyone who has information on this murder can be assured that the information they give us will be used for this murder investigation if they bring it to us.
"That does not mean that they have to come into a police station if they are feeling intimidated and the safety of any witnesses is paramount."
A man who frequently slept for just two hours a night, Patrick rarely took holidays and worked a second job as a nurse, as well as tending to his thousands of sheep.
Though someone of considerable wealth, there was little in his frugal lifestyle or the rural farmhouse where he lived to suggest riches.
At his home in Claudy, between Dungiven and Londonderry, as he sat eating his last meal of potatoes, cabbage and meat at a table in front of the living room window, a gunman approached the house, shooting him multiple times with a rifle.
"We have made a number of arrests and I am satisfied that it was a contract killing carried out by the INLA," Mr Crawford said, adding that contract killings are rare in Northern Ireland.
A recent "significant forensic development" has brought detectives closer to solving the case, but Mr Crawford said that it was crucial people came forward to tell what they know.
Police are still searching for the .22 rifle – common in the farming community – used in the murder, something which would be "crucial" to the case.
Detectives have already made a number of arrests and individuals have faced several charges, but no one has been charged with Patrick's murder.
The case was featured on the BBC's Crimewatch appeal last year and Mr Crawford added: "We have made a lot of progress in the last five months."
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Tuesday 29 May 2012
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