Murder Investigation Launched Over 1974 Benburb Killing

Police have launched a murder investigation into the death of a man who was killed by soldiers in County Tyrone over 40 years ago.

John Pat Cunnningham, 27, was shot by members of an Army patrol in Benburb on 15th June 1974.

The case has been re-opened and a murder investigation has begun.

The officer leading the investigation, Detective Inspector Neil McGuinness, said: "We have now reached a point where it is appropriate and necessary to ask for assistance from not only the local community in Benburb but also from people who may have moved away from the area or are in other parts of the world, if the investigation is to be fully progressed. I appreciate this happened more than 40 years ago but I believe there are people in the community today who remember this tragic incident, who knew John Pat and who may have information which would be of assistance to the investigation. Our objective is to get to the truth of what happened that Saturday morning so that justice can be served.

"I have three particular areas where I think members of the community may be able to help. Firstly, I would like to speak to people who knew John Pat, what sort of a young man he was, his interests, his lifestyle, his concerns.

"Secondly, I want to speak to anyone who has knowledge of any previous encounters or incidents involving John Pat and soldiers. It doesn’t matter what these were or what they amounted to – I just need to know about them.

"Finally, I would like to speak to anyone who was a witness to the fatal shooting itself at Carrickaness, Benburb at 11.50am on Saturday 15 June 1974, who has information about the incident or who engaged with soldiers at the time."

(CD/MH)