1974 Kelly murder: Family criticises new investigation

The family of a man murdered in the North in 1974 has criticised a decision to reopen the investigation into his death.

33-year-old Patrick Kelly's body was found in a lake in Co Fermanagh 29 years ago.

Mr Kelly, an independent nationalist councillor in Omagh and member of the North's Civil Rights Association, disappeared in the Co Tyrone village of Trillick on July 24 1974.

His body was found in Lough Eyes near Lisbellaw, Co Fermanagh, three weeks later, tied to 56lb weights. He had been shot a number of times. Bloodstains, shirt buttons and cartridge cases were found on the roadside near Trillick on the night he disappeared and police believe he was shot at that location.

There have long been suspicions that members of a British army unit were involved in Mr Kelly's murder.

An anonymous letter was sent to the Civil Rights Association claiming that a unit of the Ulster Defence Regiment had ambushed Mr Kelly.

A member of the unit later made a verbal confession to friends admitting that he had witnessed the killing.

Mr Kelly's family have criticised the police decision to reopen the investigation into his murder, saying they had no confidence in the inquiry.

The family's solicitor said the new investigation was an attempt to block legal efforts to establish an independent inquiry into the murder.