Inquiry begins into RUC man's murder

Mr Campbell was shot locking up an RUC station

Several former RUC officers have been questioned about the circumstances surrounding the murder of a Catholic policeman in 1977.

It is understood the Police Ombudsman held interviews with a number of ex-police officers in relation to the murder of their colleague Sergeant Joseph Campbell.

The Ombudsman is investigating possible misconduct by former members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary surrounding his murder.

Mr Campbell's family made a number of complaints to us and presented us with fresh information

Police Ombudsman spokesman

He was shot outside a police station at Cushendall in County Antrim in 1977.

Sergeant Campbell's family believe he was a victim of collusion between members of the security forces and loyalist paramilitaries.

The RUC was replaced by the Police Service of Northern Ireland last November.

Sergeant Campbell, 49, was shot as he locked up the small RUC station in the village on the Antrim coast.

His family and human rights campaigners have passed on new information to the office of the Ombudsman, Nuala O'Loan.

Mr Campbell was murdered in 1977

Mr Campbell's son Tommy Campbell said his family believed his father was the victim of collusion.

"We felt for many years that it had been investigated," he said.

"I recognise too that some people have asked about a public inquiry, but public inquiries tend to be, at present, somewhat politicised.

"We wouldn't want that at all

Fresh information

A spokesman for Mrs O'Loan said: "Sergeant Joseph Campbell was shot dead on the night of February 25, 1977 as he locked up the small RUC station at Cushendall.

"An RUC officer, who was arrested and charged with his murder, was later acquitted of Mr Campbell's death.

Tommy Campbell: "We want the facts"

"Earlier this year, Mr Campbell's family made a number of complaints to us and presented us with fresh information which has not previously been investigated," he said.

The spokesman confirmed a preliminary investigation was carried out and as a result, certain aspects before and after the murder that relate to possible police misconduct are being looked at.

"We are not, as yet, investigating Sergeant Campbell's murder but only the circumstances surrounding it."

This is the latest in a litany of allegations of collusion between the security forces and loyalist paramilitaries.

A BBC Panorama investigation said the Army's Force Research Unit and RUC Special Branch helped loyalists target Catholics to be shot.

It led to calls for an independent inquiry into several loyalist killings, including the murder of Belfast solicitor Pat Finucane in 1989.

The British and Irish governments have appointed retired Canadian Judge Peter Cory to examine the Finucane murder and other controversial killings.