A former soldier and a police informant are among 10 suspects in the murder of solicitor Rosemary Nelson, the Irish News has learned.
It is understood both men are serving jail terms for loyalist paramilitary activity unrelated to the case, but have been identified as suspects in the plot to kill the high-profile solicitor.
This weekend marks the fourth anniversary of the murder of the Lurgan mother-of-three.
The long-running investigation has pin-pointed eight to 10 suspects in a murder hunt which is now understood to have seen English detectives travel to Africa, Europe and the US in search of information. But despite an investigation believed to have cost in excess of £7 million, police have been unable to secure the evidence needed to bring the Lurgan solicitor's killers to justice.
It has been confirmed, however, that the list of suspects includes a former soldier. The Co Armagh man was a serving member of the RIR at the time of the killing, but left the army two months after it.
A Co Armagh loyalist, who was identified in a court case unrelated to Mrs Nelson's murder as being a police informant, has also been targeted by police investigating the solicitor's case.
Despite the men's connections to the security forces, sources have privately played down the role of both individuals, claiming police have yet to identify the exact nature of their connection to the case.
But the information raises fresh questions over a murder in which the allegations of security force collusion continue to linger.
Mrs Nelson (40) died in a car bomb attack launched by the loyalist Red Hand Defenders on March 15 1999.
Prior to her death she was threatened by loyalists, but also alleged police officers interviewing some of her clients had said she would be killed.
Concerns for her safety were highlighted by human rights groups and were eventually probed by a senior figure from the United Nations who recommended urgent action by the British government.
Mrs Nelson detailed her own fears when she addressed a hearing at the US congress in Washington, just months before she was killed.
Her death sparked international calls for an independent investigation, but it was controversially decided the murder would be probed by a team made-up of RUC officers and police staff drawn from Britain.
Deputy Chief Constable of Norfolk Colin Port stepped down as head of the investigation late last year.
And despite police pledges that the hunt for the killers has continued, relatives of the murdered solicitor have expressed concerns the investigation is effectively over.
