Cold Case Break: Two Men Nabbed Over 50-Year-Old RUC Murder
In a stunning development, two elderly suspects have been arrested in Meath and Donegal for the brutal 1975 murder of a Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officer and the attempted killing of his colleague. The almost 50-year-old case harks back to a deadly INLA ambush in Dungiven, Co Derry.
Details of the Arrests
The men, aged 73 and 72, were detained under a Trade and Co-operation Agreement (TaCA) Warrant following a coordinated operation with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). The duo are linked to the tragic shooting on July 26, 1975, when Constable Robert John McPherson, 25, was killed on Dungiven Main Street.
His colleague survived multiple gunshot wounds during the same ambush.
Here’s what each suspect faces:
- The 73-year-old is charged with murder.
- The 72-year-old is questioned over firearms offences.
Third Arrest in Related Guns and Explosives Probe
A third man, 71-year-old Joseph Gerard Kelly, was also arrested in Dungiven by PSNI detectives. He faces charges tied to firearms and explosives offences from 1976, including possession of electronic detonators and pressure mats, plus various firearms allegedly intended to endanger life.
At a bail hearing, defence solicitor Seamus Quigley noted Kelly has lived openly at his home for the last 20 years. The judge granted bail with strict conditions: surrender his passport, remain at his address, and report weekly to Limavady PSNI station.
Next Steps in Court
The case will next be mentioned at the Limavady court sitting in Coleraine on July 10. The charges come following new powers under the Northern Ireland (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023, which took effect in May. The Northern Ireland Public Prosecution Service is leading the prosecution of these historic offences.
