Three individuals have been detained in relation to the killing of Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officer and an attempted murder of another officer that occurred almost half a century ago in County Derry. Constable Robert John McPherson lost his life after responding to a potential crime at a post office in Dungiven, County Derry, back on July 26th, 1975. The Provisional IRA later admitted their involvement in the act.
As part of a combined operation with the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), gardaí detained two men, aged 73 and 72, in the counties of Meath and Donegal on Wednesday. The suspect aged 72 is being held on murder charges, while the 73-year-old is under suspicion of firearms offences related to the killing of Mr. McPherson and the attempted murder of another officer.
Their arrests were executed under a warrant from a trade and co-operation agreement. It is anticipated that the suspects will face the Dublin High Court this Wednesday.
In addition, as part of the same investigation, a 71-year-old man from Dungiven was apprehended by detectives from the PSNI’s legacy investigation branch and is due in the Derry Magistrates Court on Wednesday.
The PSNI has been working closely with the Garda, and it stated that the detainments signify the positive outcome of the joint efforts of police services and other nationwide partner agencies.
The Public Prosecution Service had sanctioned the decision to hold legal proceedings against these three men before the Northern Ireland (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023 came into effect on May 1st.