Police have arrested a man in connection with the killing of Constable Colleen McMurray, an RUC officer murdered in an IRA mortar bomb attack in Newry in 1992.
The 59-year-old was arrested at Birmingham Airport by officers attached to the PSNI’s legacy investigation branch with support from the West Midlands’ counter terrorism team.
He faces questioning at Musgrave station in Belfast over the March 1992 incident, that killed Constable McMurray, Her colleague, Paul Slaine, lost both his legs in the attack on the city’s Merchant’s Quay.
Ms McMurray was a passenger in the unmarked vehicle hit as it travelled along the quay.
Her killing, and the injuring of Mr Slaine, was the subject of a Police Ombudsman report only completed in 2021, 17 years after questions were raised by the family and others.
There were claims RUC Special Branch had prior information of an attack and could have prevented the death. This claim was based largely on the testimony of a former agent operating in the area.
The ombudsman’s report concluded the agent did not provide the RUC intelligence which could have prevented the attack, adding the individual should have been regarded as a suspect.
However, the ombudsman did conclude there were “investigative failings” by the police following the attack.
In a statement following the publication of the report, widower Philip said: “The findings whilst welcomed in part do not go far enough.”
Mr McMurray added: “It is clear RUC Special Branch held intelligence on key suspects involved in the murder of Constable McMurray.
“The families are of the view there was collusion between the PIRA and British security forces which is politically difficult for both the Provisional IRA and the British State to allow to be investigated.”
