Northern Ireland

Potential breakthrough in British army killings probe

UUP MP Tom Elliott has questioned the police appeal for information on alleged incidents involving the MRF in 1972
UUP MP Tom Elliott has questioned the police appeal for information on alleged incidents involving the MRF in 1972 UUP MP Tom Elliott has questioned the police appeal for information on alleged incidents involving the MRF in 1972

AN INVESTIGATION into shootings linked to a British army undercover unit in 1972 has had a potential breakthrough, police have said.

The detective leading the probe into claims that soldiers attached to the Military Reaction Force (MRF) shot unarmed civilians said a witness had come forward with significant new information.

Police are investigating 18 shootings in Belfast between April and September 1972, including the deaths of father-of-six Patrick McVeigh (44) and Daniel Rooney (18).

The MRF was set up in 1971 but disbanded after just 14 months because of serious concerns about the covert soldiers' tactics.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Montgomery said a witness had given investigators key information and there is now a new line of inquiry.

"Already today I've had a highly significant piece of information provided to me by a member of the public," he said.

"I will look at this impartially and I will establish the facts.

"If there are any criminal offences, I will investigate them and if I can achieve it, I will put people in front of the courts."

Ulster Unionist MP Tom Elliott yesterday questioned why police are seeking information on shootings linked to the MRF "rather than other Troubles-related incidents which resulted in loss of life".

The Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP said he had concerns about the appeal.

"There is no question that all murders should be treated equally," he said.

"The decision by the PSNI to appeal for information regarding incidents involving the Military Reaction Force in 1972 leads me to ask what kind of strategy is being deployed with regard to investigating the past or unsolved deaths?

"I would like to know the rationale as to why the PSNI have chosen to highlight this particular case and have not in the past launched similar appeals for help with investigations into the Enniskillen Remembrance Day bomb, the Bloody Friday bombs, the La Mon atrocity, the murder of over 300 RUC officers or the almost 1,000 military personnel killed by terrorists.

"Given the litany of unsolved murders from 1969 to the present day it is not as if the police were limited in their choice of potential investigations."