Northern Ireland

Two men arrested over Jonathan Cairns murder released on police bail

Jonathan Cairns (18) was beaten to death near his home in Ballykelly in April 1999.
Jonathan Cairns (18) was beaten to death near his home in Ballykelly in April 1999. Jonathan Cairns (18) was beaten to death near his home in Ballykelly in April 1999.

Two men arrested over the 1999 murder of Jonathan Cairns have been released on police bail

A 51-year-old man was arrested in the Limavady area and a 43-year-old in Ballykelly on suspicion of withholding information.

Jonathan (18) was attacked and killed as he made his way home from a night out in the early hours of Sunday April 25 1999.

His body was discovered in a shallow grave at Loughermore Forest close to his Ballykelly home. No-one has ever been convicted of the teenager’s murder although a 49-year-old man was sentenced to five years in prison in 2002 for perverting the course of justice.

A 44-year-old woman arrested earlier this week on suspicion of murdering the teenager has been released on bail.