Former Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer (above) is calling for a prime suspect in the IRA murders of three British soldiers to face justice – more than 18 months after he was discovered by The Mail on Sunday
Former Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer is calling for a prime suspect in the IRA murders of three British soldiers to face justice – more than 18 months after he was discovered by The Mail on Sunday.
Police have now concluded a fresh review into the murders of soldiers John and Joseph McCaig, aged 17 and 18, and their friend Dougald McCaughey, 23, in March 1971, which was launched after this newspaper’s revelations.
But it is understood that suspect Anthony ‘Dutch’ Doherty, a former IRA man who was arrested over the killings in 1971 but later escaped jail and was never prosecuted, has not been interviewed by officers as part of the inquiry.
Families of three of the victims are all former Army officers and off-duty Royal Highland Fusiliers members. They now call on the authorities to take action.
Kris McGurk spoke on behalf the families of soldiers and said that it had been 18 months since The Mail tracked down the suspect in these horrendous murders.
“We will continue fighting for justice. We are just asking the people with the power to make it happen.
A new review has been completed by police into the March 1971 murders of John and Joseph McCaig, aged 17-18, and Dougald McCaughey (23), respectively. This was done in response to this newspaper’s revelations.
Dougald McCaughey (above), 23 years old, was executed by an IRA hit crew in Belfast on a remote street in 1971
According to officers, Anthony Dutch’ Doherty (an ex-IRA member who was arrested in connection with the murders of 1971, but later escaped from prison and wasn’t prosecuted) hasn’t been interviewed as part the investigation. (Doherty was pictured in 1972 as well as in 2019.)
The Metropolitan Police still has not interviewed Patrick Ryan (a former priest who is now 92) about his arrangements for bomb timers and explosives to be delivered to the IRA to carry out the Hyde Park bombings.
Plymouth Moor View MP Mr. Mercer stated that these two cases proved why the Government’s proposed amnesty to unsolved Troubles crime victims was flawed.
He stated, “It’s absolutely right for these individuals to be brought before the justice system,”
It is possible to achieve that goal without continually harassing veteran thinkers. But it does require a lot more hard work and application than what the present thought leaders in this field have.
They highlight the risks of legislation being passed by the Government at the moment. The government is preventing British citizens killed by the IRA from accessing justice – it’s a terrible thing.
The MoS can also reveal that repeated requests by families involved in the Hyde Park Justice Campaign, represented by lawyers McCue Jury & Partners, for a meeting with Home Secretary Priti Patel about the case have gone unanswered.
Mark Tipper, whose younger brother Simon died in the 1982 IRA bombing, stated: ‘Are you not important? Why doesn’t Home Secretary come to our aid? Patrick Ryan needs to be brought before the justice system. That’s what we want and will not stop until we have it.
Also, it was revealed that Patrick Ryan, a former priest and now 92-year-old man of faith, has yet to be interviewed by the Metropolitan Police. Ryan claimed in a BBC 2019 documentary that he arranged for bomb timers and explosives to be delivered to the IRA for bombings at Hyde Park or Brighton.
A source at the Home Office confirmed that Hyde Park’s campaign group will be ‘contacted next weeks’ after inquiries by the MoS.
Stephen Wright (Police Service of Northern Ireland Detective Superintendent) commented on the deaths of soldiers, saying: “There are no additional lines of inquiry that need to be pursued at this time and this case doesn’t form part of Legacy Investigation Branch’s caseload.”
“However, the case remains open. If any additional evidence is discovered, we will thoroughly investigate it.”
Ryan was referred to by a spokesperson from Scotland Yard, who said: “Our investigation of the bombings in Hyde Park and Regents Park in 1982 is ongoing.”
“The investigation team has been made aware of the comments that were included in a BBC documentaire that aired September 2019. We don’t have any further information at the moment.
Mark Tipper (whose brother Simon died in the 1982 IRA attack) said that he thought we were important. Why doesn’t Home Secretary come to our aid? Patrick Ryan must be brought before the justice system. That’s what we want and will not stop until it is achieved.