Fugitive's role in Nairac murder

By Darragh McIntyre
BBC NI Spotlight

Terry McCormick, pictured in 1970, details events of that night

A man who has been on-the-run for 30 years is to tell of his role in the capture and killing of undercover soldier Robert Nairac.

Captain Nairac, an SAS trained officer, was shot dead in Ravensdale, County Louth, on 15 May 1977.

He had been kidnapped outside The Three Steps pub near Jonesborough in South Armagh. His body has never been found.

Terry McCormick, 64, will give his account of the events of that night to BBC NI's Spotlight programme.

He has been in hiding in America since 1977.

He tells Spotlight reporter Darragh MacIntyre how he pretended to be a priest while interrogating Robert Nairac.

He says: "I told Nairac that he had better make a confession, because unless he told the truth he was going to be shot. He proceeded... saying 'Bless me Father for I have sinned'."

Spotlight's Darragh MacIntyre talks to Terry McCormick who did not want his face identified

Captain Nairac was shot dead by an IRA gunman minutes later without ever revealing his identity.

This is the first time anyone involved in the killing has spoken publicly about what happened that night.

He says: "There is not a day goes by that I don't say a prayer for Captain Nairac."

Six men were later convicted of involvement in the killing. Terry McCormick is one of three men who went on-the-run. They remain at large today.

The Hunt for Captain Nairac, a Spotlight special, is on BBC One at 2235 BST on Tuesday 19 June.