The police investigation into the murder of a UDR man 16 years ago has been reviewed after serious concerns over the original probe were brought to light.
It can be revealed that Police Ombudsman Nuala O'Loan, having been contacted by the family of Joseph McIlwaine, has written to the Chief Constable highlighting a litany of apparent deficiencies in the case.
Mr McIlwaine, a 20-year-old part-time soldier, 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.
In a document obtained by the Irish News and published for the first time today, it can be revealed that despite the "security situation" at the time, the ombudsman highlighted key areas of concern over:
- the failure to pursue a murder suspect
- pursuit of forensic opportunities in relation to the gunmen.
These and other "apparently outstanding investigative matters" prompted a review of the original probe.
Last night (Thursday) police declined to comment on the status of the review, but the results of the fresh assessment are now understood to be in the possession of Chief Constable Hugh Orde.
In a special package on unsolved murders, the Irish News also spoke to the parents of 17-year-old Catholic Patrick McCullough, who was shot dead as he chatted to friends near his north Belfast home in 1972.
It can be revealed that his family were only told five years ago that the file on his murder was destroyed in the bombing of an RUC station in 1975.
The loss of the file only emerged after the victim's brother, a barrister, made inquiries through the police amid concerns about the investigation.
"There was no record of a criminal investigation," says Jim McCullough.
"Our complaint is if somebody gets killed, there is a police record of it in some description.
"There has been no effort on behalf of the state to investigate that murder, and hundreds of others like it.
"My brother was a citizen of the state, he is entitled to his rights.
"It was part of the crime that was perpetrated against all of the people in the north by the very state in which they were citizens."
Mr McIlwaine's now elderly parents Joseph and Annie are also scathing about the police investigation into their son's murder.
The family were told privately that one of the guns used in the attack which has been linked to other murders, was destroyed by police.
"The RUC never bothered investigating it, that is my opinion. We were never informed about what was going on," says Mr McIlwaine.
"The single ones (murders) have been ignored. Even in the high-profile cases, they (the authorities) have to be pushed into it."
