New police team to probe paramilitary murder

25/04/2005 - 21:56:54
A new team of detectives has been brought in to probe a loyalist paramilitary murder dogged by allegations of a police cover-up, it was revealed tonight.

One of Northern Ireland’s most senior detectives, Phil Wright, is heading the inquiry into the savage killing of Raymond McCord in 1997.

The ex-RAF radar operator, 22, was beaten to death and his body dumped in a north Belfast quarry in 1997.

His father, Raymond McCord Sr, has defied death threats to speak out against the Ulster Volunteer Force men he blames for the attack.

Mr McCord believes Special Branch blocked the original investigation to protect two high-ranking moles within the terrorist organisation.

Raymond Jr was killed on the orders of asenior UVF man and police informer who has never been charged despite links to at least a dozen murders, he alleges.

His claims are being examined by the Northern Ireland Police Ombudsman, Nuala O’Loan.

Mr McCord, who has rejected an invitation to meet political representatives in the Republic of Ireland, met with Chief Superintendent Wright and Assistant Chief Constable Sam Kinkaid in Belfast today.

He told PA: “There’s a new team of investigators and I’m more confident because the last team were hindered.

“Sam Kinkaid seems to be doing a lot more than his predecessors and Phil Wright impressed me.”

During their talks Mr McCord gave the officers the names of two UVF men he claims were involved in both his son’s killing and an attempt to bomb Sinn Féin offices across the border in Co Monaghan months earlier.

The Police Service of Northern Ireland confirmed tonight the meeting took place, with more expected in future.

A spokeswoman would not comment on changes to the investigation, but said: “There are a number of lines of inquiry being pursued in relation to the murder of Mr McCord’s son.”

Meanwhile, Mr McCord has turned down a chance to discuss his case with political representatives from a number of parties in the Republic.

He was invited to Dublin along with Liam Kennedy, a critic of paramilitary human rights abuses standing as an independent election candidate in Sinn Féin President Gerry Adams’ West Belfast constituency.

Michael Gallagher, whose son Aiden was killed in the August 1998 Omagh bomb massacre, was also asked to attend.

But Mr McCord was withering in his assessment of the southern parties sincerity.

He claimed: “Seven and a half years after my son’s murder they have never offered me any support, and it’s not just young Raymond’s case.

“They have failed to speak out on behalf of Protestant victims, it has always been a nationalist agenda.”

Mr Gallagher said he understood Mr McCord’s decision, but insisted it was better to challenge those in authority to help.

He said: “If I go down there might be doors open that wouldn’t otherwise.

“I don’t care how they are opened, I want to take advantage of that.”