PSNI unit to investigate 2,000 unsolved murders

A SPECIAL unit being set up within the PSNI to review nearly 2,000 unsolved murders over 30 years is expected to take up to six years to carry out its task.

Northern Secretary Paul Murphy announced he was committing between £30 million and £32m (€46m) but admitted he did not know if it was enough. The Bloody Sunday inquiry into 13 deaths has already cost the Exchequer at least £150m (€217m).

Mr Murphy said of the new police probe: “We will keep this under review, as time goes by we will see whether it is necessary to have any more money but at the moment we think it is sufficient to be able to do the job.”

Mr Murphy announced the new investigation in an effort to provide closure to families who lost loved ones during the Troubles but didn’t really know what had happened.

Mr Murphy said: “The government is committed to doing all that it can to help Northern Ireland deal with its troubled past and our pledge to provide the resources to look at unresolved deaths underpins that commitment.”

Speaking at a joint news conference in Stormont with PSNI Chief Constable Hugh Orde, he added: “We believe that Northern Ireland needs a tailored approach to deal with the pain, grief and anger associated with its past.

“Part of this approach is the need to address, in a systematic and comprehensive way, all of the unresolved deaths that took place during the Troubles.”

He said yesterday’s announcement for funding would allow the Chief Constable to establish a new unit to cover all unresolved deaths in a way that would command the confidence of the wider community.

He said: “This is sensitive, painstaking and complex work and in many cases is unlikely to lead to any prosecutions. But it is important work if we are to provide answers to the questions so many people have about the death of their loved ones.”

Mr Orde revealed the new unit would be headed by recently retired Metropolitan Police Commander David Cox.

In addition, the head of investigation would be a seconded Detective Superintendent, Phil James, who previously worked with Mr Orde on the Stevens team which probed collusion in loyalist murders.

Mr Orde said: “This is a massive challenge for policing. No one to my knowledge, and no police service, certainly in Europe, has ever tried to work through such a complex group of unsolved crimes committed over 30 years.”

He said details had yet to be finalised but he expected the unit to involve around 100 people.

Some staff would be seconded from other forces in Great Britain - and the gardaí if possible - and a number of retired officers would provide support.

Mr Orde added: “We do not underestimate the importance of the challenge and we do not underestimate the importance of this work to thousands of people and families.”