Forensic science advances could help identify killers of RUC officers

Sergeant Sean Quinn, 37, Constable Paul Hamilton, 26 and Constable Allan McCloy, 34 were killed at Kinnego Embankment when a massive IRA landmine exploded, throwing their Ford Cortina car 70ft into a field.

On the 38th anniversary of the October 27 attack, investigating officers from Operation Kenova, led by former Bedfordshire chief constable Jon Boutcher, have launched a fresh appeal for new witnesses to come forward.

Two people were convicted of withholding information about the attack but no one has ever been charged with involvement in the murder.

Mr Boutcher said: “This was cold-blooded murder of three young men. The explosion which tore their vehicle apart killing them instantly and wrecking countless lives, leaving three widows and five children to grow up without their father.

“PC Paul Hamilton never even got to meet his unborn son. Nothing can fill that void or replace those stolen memories, but, at the very least, their families deserve to know the truth.”

Mr Boutcher added: “We have made huge strides forward in forensic technology in the years since this happened, and Kenova are exploiting all the opportunities, which were not available to previous investigations.”

The senior investigator said his team has made “encouraging progress,” but said anyone who knows the identity of two men who fled the scene on a red Honda motorcycle – or saw the Honda and two helmets beind abandoned in Francis Street in Lurgan – should contact the his team.

Pictures of the motorcycle helmets believed to have been used by the killers have been released in an effort to jog the memories of potential witnesses.

“We are re-releasing images of the motorcycle helmets which Kenova believed were used by the people who were seen to flee the scene shortly after the detonation of the bomb,” Mr Boutcher said.

“This will hopefully jog the memories of people who may have seen these individuals wearing or removing the helmets on 27th October 1982. If people saw those responsible, notwithstanding that it was such a long time ago, I am sure they will still remember it well, because they will have soon realised just what an evil act those men committed that day. Help us to help these families.

“If you have any information about this awful incident, please do the right thing. Come forward and speak to us.”

Speaking to the News Letter ahead of the renewed appeal for information, Mr Boutcher said: “I think this case really demonstrates that today, we can find out for these families what took place with their loved ones were killed, by applying today’s forensic techniques, which are obviously much advanced compared to anything that could have been done in 1982.

“The opportunities that DNA provides would never had been considered by the terrorists who committed this crime back then. By applying those techniques today to exhibits that still exist, that were seized at the time of the offence, gives us an incredible opportunity to understand how the offence was committed and who may have been responsible.”

Mr Boutcher also said that one significant aspect of his investigation has already been completed and the families notified of the outcome.

When asked about long-standing claims that an intelligence failure could have played a key role in the officers’ deaths, he said that although he could not put the information into the public domain at this time, he has established the facts.

The families had long-standing concerns that the Kinnego area had been placed ‘out of bounds’ to the military that morning but that police had not been given the same instructions.

Mr Boutcher said: “The families have asked me that exact question, and I have been able to give them a very detailed explanation about what happened that day, with regards to the question of that particular area being out of bounds and what happened, so that they have finally had the answers that they have been seeking.”

Mr Boutcher said he could not go into any more detail at present as there would be a danger of impacting negative any possible prosecutions arising from his investigation.

“But that has been fully answered and I have told the families the answer to that question,” he added.

Commenting on the level of cooperation he has received from the PSNI and the relevant retired RUC officers, Mr Boutcher said he was confident he had access to all available evidence.

He said: “We have, in the last 12 months of conducting this investigation, approached a number of people who have retired from the security forces, and a number of people in the community, that we have identified as people who might be able to help us with this.

“Each of them has cooperated with the inquiry and assisted our understanding of what happened. We have had access to the records, and I wouldn’t countenance us not having access to the records, that existed back in the day.”

Mr Boutcher said “that has not been an issue for us,” and added: “I am satisfied that I have been given access to all of the material to decide what is relevant.”

A solicitor acting for the families said; “For a long time, we believed this appalling terrorist crime would remain unsolved. Now, however, with ‘encouraging progress’ achieved, we have been given renewed hope that the culprits will be identified.”

In a statement issued on behalf of the victims’ families, solicitor Kellie Morwood of Edwards & Co, said: “Anniversaries are always difficult for us. Thirty-eight years on from this cowardly IRA attack, we are still grieving and feel the loss of our loved ones most keenly. For a long time, we believed this appalling terrorist crime would remain unsolved.

“Now, however, with ‘encouraging progress’ achieved, we have been given renewed hope that the culprits will be identified. We would echo the appeal made by Mr Boutcher and ask those who know anything about the attack to come forward to help deliver some closure for us.”

Anyone with any information is asked to call 01234 858298 or email [email protected]

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