No Proof RUC Officers Heard Murder Admission – Police Ombudsman

The Police Ombudsman has concluded that it could not be established that two RUC Special Branch officers were present when a person admitted responsibility for the 1990 murder of Eoin Morley, and took no action.

Eoin Morley was murdered by the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) in Newry on April 15, 1990.

This second investigation by the Police Ombudsman followed a 2005 report that found the RUC failed to properly investigate Morley's death, withholding crucial intelligence.

In 2005, the PSNI received information alleging that a person (Person A) admitted to shooting Morley in the presence of security service and RUC officers.

This led to an investigation focusing on a 1992 "note for file" by an MI5 officer, detailing a meeting in London where Person A allegedly confessed to the murder.

The note claimed this admission was repeated in the presence of two RUC Special Branch officers.

Police Ombudsman investigators reviewed intelligence and files, finding the RUC investigation was not provided with this information. They also obtained a statement from the MI5 officer and debrief notes from the RUC officers, which contained no mention of the murder confession.

Both RUC officers were interviewed under caution, denying any recollection of the confession. The Police Ombudsman submitted a file to the Public Prosecution Service (PPS), but the PPS directed no prosecution against one officer and the second officer had passed away. Person A was also investigated by the PSNI, denied involvement, and the PPS decided not to prosecute.

Police Ombudsman Marie Anderson stated: "Although the matter was subject to exhaustive investigation by my Office, it was not possible to establish whether the account provided by the member of the security service is more accurate than those provided by the two police officers who were alleged to have heard the admission of murder. The PPS gave careful consideration to the available evidence submitted by my investigators and concluded there was no reasonable prospect of securing a conviction against any officer."

Responding to the Police Ombudsman report, Assistant Chief Constable Ryan Henderson said: "In 2005, the then Chief Constable of the Police Service of Northern Ireland made a referral to the Office of the Police Ombudsman for an independent investigation into allegations that two police officers were present when a person admitted responsibility for the 1990 murder of Eoin Morley, and took no action and we welcome the publication of their report today.

"We will now take time to consider the report in full, however it is noted the Police Ombudsman has concluded that it could not be established that Special Branch Officers heard an admission of Mr Morley's murder."