Irish state collusion with IRA: Family seeks answers in relation to murder of UDR Cpl Jim Elliott

The 36-year-old father-of-three was murdered and his body left on a border road near Newtownhamilton. The remains of the part-time UDR Corporal were left in 'a minefield' of six claymore mines with a 500lb bomb left only feet away.

It was not until 2005 that his family discovered that two IRA men were jailed soon after, in the south, for boobytrapping his body.

One served only nine months in jail and the other 15 to 18 months, said Ulster Human Rights Watch Advocacy Worker Jonathan Larner.

The length of the sentences was "an absolute joke" for what they did, he said, but it was "even more surprising" that they were never even questioned about his murder, he said.

In February Attorney General Brenda King granted the family a legacy inquest into the murder.

The family also believe the inquest could unearth evidence of Irish state collusion.

"These two men convicted of boobytrapping the body were apparently never questioned about the murder itself," Mr Larner said.

“Plus their sentences were incredibly short. So the family suspects [Irish] state collusion. There are a lot of questions to be answered.

"The family wants to know the full truth of what happened to their father during the 30 hours he was abducted."

The initial inquest concluded that Mr Elliott was murdered on the spot he was found.

However three factors suggest this was the wrong conclusion, he said.

Mr Elliott's funeral director signed a statement saying that he he saw evidence of torture on the body, which the family also saw, Mr Larner said.

British Army soldiers seemingly witnessed vehicles drop the body where it was found - but without any sound or evidence of gunfire, he said.

There is also an affidavit that states Mr Elliott was murdered at the home of an IRA man in Mullyash in Co Monaghan.

"We had a meeting with the Gardi last year and they confirmed that this address was being used at that time to detain IRA abductees."

The family still hopes for justice.

"One of the men who was arrested and convicted of boobytrapping the body is still alive," Mr Larner said.

"We have pushed the PSNI to question the suspect since 2020 but nothing's really moved forward, unfortunately," said Jonathan.

"However the family have been calling for his arrest since 2005, when they found out for the first time that he was jailed for boobytrapping the body.”

The cut off date for a full PSNI murder investigation could be determined by the government's Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill, which is progressing through Parliament, he said.

It proposes immunity for Troubles related crime – as long as perpetrators cooperate with a new truth recovery body – and will stop future court processes.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, UUP leader Doug Beattie and TUV leader Jim Allister have written to the Prime Minister asking him to ensure the inquest is not derailed by it.

A PSNI spokeswoman responded that Detectives from Legacy Investigation Branch (LIB) are currently assessing material provided by the Elliott family and are liaising with the authorities in the Republic of Ireland.“Following this assessment any credible lines of inquiry capable of leading to the potential prosecution of suspects will be considered,” they said. “Any information about the murder of Corporal James Elliott should be brought to the attention of police.”