Police have initiated fresh forensic tests in relation to the murder of a UDR man 16 years ago, it can be revealed.
The moves comes after Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan detailed what she viewed as a range of flaws in the original police probe into the IRA killing of part-time soldier Joseph McIlwaine in 1987.
Serious concerns that key leads and evidential opportunities in the hunt for the 20-year-old's murderers were not pursued prompted chief constable Hugh Orde to order a review of the case, the results of which have remained under wraps until now.
The Irish News – which recently highlighted the plight of the victim's elderly parents – has obtained a document which appears to point to an admission by the police that the original probe was inadequate.
In her own preliminary review the ombudsman noted that despite the security situation at the time and the reluctance of witnesses to come forward, there were apparent deficiencies in the murder inquiry.
These included failures to pursue a suspect named in intelligence originating from Special Branch and forensic opportunities relating to the gunmen – lines of inquiry that could determine the success of any murder investigation.
In a recent letter to Chief Constable, the ombudsman noted that the senior officer heading the review "came to very similar conclusions" to those her office reached and once again detailed the deficiencies uncovered.
"I look forward to hearing from Assistant Chief Constable Sam Kinkaid (the head of PSNI crime department) as to whether it is now possible to follow up these missed investigative opportunities. Clearly the family have a very significant interest in this matter," she wrote.
The ombudsman – who has already unearthed police failings in a number of high-profile cases with more revelations expected to be exposed in the near future – also confirmed that fresh forensic work was underway although the exact nature of which was not disclosed.
Last night (Thursday) police said they were not in a position to comment on the latest developments.
Mr McIIwaine was shot dead by the IRA on the morning of June 12 1987, during a tea break at Aberdelgy Golf Club near Lisburn where he worked as a greenkeeper.
Three armed men walked into the hut where the young man had downed his tools for a cup of tea and singled out their target before shooting him 12 times at close range.
As one of the gunmen was about to reload, he dropped bullets pulled from a handkerchief and the trio fled in a white Vauxhall Cavalier car, hijacked from the nearby Twinbrook estate.
Amid mounting concerns over the handling of the original police investigation, the family lodged a complaint with the police ombudsman.
Last night the victim's sister Janet said: "We are waiting with bated breath for the outcome of these forensic tests so we can find out if anyone can be tried for Joseph's murder.
"However, we are not the only ones, there are a lot of similar cases."
In a recent interview in the Irish News Mr McIlwaine's elderly father, also called Joseph, said: "The RUC never bothered investigating it (his son's murder), that is my opinion...
"We have so many questions. It is not about knowing who did it but knowing they are free and have enjoyed life. It's an awful strain."
