Man charged 32 years after Standish Army officer's murder (From Stroud News and Journal)

Man charged 32 years after Standish Army officer's murder

3:43pm Thursday 12th November 2009

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POLICE in Northern Ireland have charged a man with the murder of Gloucestershire Army officer Robert Nairac more than 32 years ago.

Kevin Crilly, 59, from Lower Foughill Road, Jonesborough, was also charged with two counts of kidnapping and false imprisonment.

He was released on bail following the hearing at Newry Magistrates’ Court yesterday, Wednesday.

Captain Nairac, 29, originally from Standish near Stroud, was abducted by the IRA in Dromintee, County Armagh, on May 14, 1977.

His body was never found.

A detective sergeant told the court that he could connect Mr Crilly with the charges.

He also gave details of how Captain Nairac was abducted after a fight broke out at the Three Steps bar in Dromintee in south Armagh.

Three men have previously been convicted of murdering Captain Nairac.

On the night of his disappearance he was working undercover without backup in the republican heartland of South Armagh - attempting to gather intelligence on IRA operations.

Accounts of the final hours before his disappearance depict the Catholic public school-educated officer singing Irish rebel songs at the bar in a faked local accent.

He was posthumously awarded the George Cross - the citation praising his resistance to his abductors and bravery under a succession of exceptionally savage assaults.

The court heard that the car used to drive Captain Nairac away was either owned or driven by Mr Crilly.

Two weeks later, a strand of hair consistent with a sample taken from Captain Nairac's hairbrush was found in the same car.

It is believed he was driven across the border to Ravensdale forest in County Louth, where two fishermen later found traces of blood.

Mr Crilly was interviewed by police shortly after Captain Nairac's disappearance, but was later released.

He had spent 29 years in the United States and only returned to Northern Ireland after the break-up of a long-term relationship.

Any former friends or relatives of Captain Nairac who would like to pay tribute to him can call SNJ reporter Nick Wakefield on 01453 769 414.

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