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12/12/2006
Ombudsman's findings in soldier's murder
A new report by the police Ombudsman's Office has today revealed that the murder of the last British soldier to have died as a result of the Troubles in Northern Ireland could have been prevented.
Lance Bombardier Stephen Restorick, 23, was fatally wounded by an IRA gunman while working at a checkpoint in County Armagh in 1997.
The Ombudsman's investigation was prompted by an interview given by a former soldier who told a Sunday paper that Mr Restorick's death was not prevented to protect the life of an informer.
The Police Ombudsman, Nuala O'Loan, said that there was no evidence of this.
She said: "The man who made these allegations was a former member of the Special Forces but he was not present on the day of the attack nor was he part of a surveillance team operating in the area at the time.
"While we have uncovered evidence that the stolen Mazda car used in the attack was under surveillance, we have found no evidence that a listening device had been planted on board nor that anyone knew about the specific plans for the car that day.
"We also examined the issue of whether the gun used in the attack had been fitted with a tracking device as alleged by the undercover officer.
"I am satisfied, given the level of evidence obtained during the inquiry, that this was not the case."
Mr Restorick from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire was the last soldier to be killed before the IRA called its second ceasefire.
Mrs O'Loan continued by saying that a thorough investigation had been carried out following the ex-soldier's claims, however no evidence had been found to confirm that Lance Bombardier Restorick's life could have been saved.
(EF/KMcA)
Lance Bombardier Stephen Restorick, 23, was fatally wounded by an IRA gunman while working at a checkpoint in County Armagh in 1997.
The Ombudsman's investigation was prompted by an interview given by a former soldier who told a Sunday paper that Mr Restorick's death was not prevented to protect the life of an informer.
The Police Ombudsman, Nuala O'Loan, said that there was no evidence of this.
She said: "The man who made these allegations was a former member of the Special Forces but he was not present on the day of the attack nor was he part of a surveillance team operating in the area at the time.
"While we have uncovered evidence that the stolen Mazda car used in the attack was under surveillance, we have found no evidence that a listening device had been planted on board nor that anyone knew about the specific plans for the car that day.
"We also examined the issue of whether the gun used in the attack had been fitted with a tracking device as alleged by the undercover officer.
"I am satisfied, given the level of evidence obtained during the inquiry, that this was not the case."
Mr Restorick from Peterborough, Cambridgeshire was the last soldier to be killed before the IRA called its second ceasefire.
Mrs O'Loan continued by saying that a thorough investigation had been carried out following the ex-soldier's claims, however no evidence had been found to confirm that Lance Bombardier Restorick's life could have been saved.
(EF/KMcA)
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