Event to remember Scots soldier trio lured to death by IRA

A simple ceremony was held in north Belfast last night at the spot where three Scots soldiers were lured to their death 45 years ago to the day by republican women.

Dougald McCaughey, 23, was killed along with teenage brothers John, 17, and Joseph, 18, McCaig on March 10, 1971.

They were lured to White Brae in north Belfast by women they met in the city centre before being shot by the IRA. No one has ever been convicted for the murders.

John McVicar, secretary of the Old Park and Cavehill Branch of the Royal British Legion, attended the scene of the murder last night with three other members of his group.

“We were at the spot where the murders took place at 7.30pm tonight (Thursday) which is roughly when they were killed,” he said.

“At the same time, their families and friends held a special service at the George Square Cenotaph in Glasgow which was attended by around 150 people.

“Tonight we left a floral tribute consisting of red roses and the regimental tartan.”

A stone memorial at the spot has been attacked and defaced 23 times since it was erected in 2009, he said.

“Just before the anniversary this year we spent £900 to have it cleaned up.”

He paid tribute to the PSNI for setting up a hidden camera at the site last year which caught a Dunmurry man defacing it. He was later convicted. “He came a long way across the city to be offended by it,” he added.