Family challenge Ombudsman’s findings in RUC whistleblower’s killing

THE family of a Catholic RUC sergeant suspected of being shot dead in 1977 by RUC Special Branch officers colluding with Ulster Volunteer Force assassin Robin Jackson before he could expose RUC officers’ criminality have rejected a Police Ombudsman report that evidence of collusion is “inconclusive”.

Police Ombudsman Michael Maguire’s report does, however, damn the RUC and then Chief Constable Sir Kenneth Newman, saying he “quite probably knew” of a threat to Campbell’s life yet failed to act.

The then head of Special Branch, Mick Slevin (now deceased), was also believed to be “fully aware” of the threat to Campbell.

The dead man’s family have believed for years that the Catholic RUC sergeant was targeted by members of the RUC Special Branch and set up to be killed by loyalists

Notorious UVF killer Robin Jackson* (pictured), known as ‘The Jackal’, was said to have shot Campbell dead as he locked the gates of the RUC barracks in the north Antrim village of Cushendall on 25 February 1977.

It was widely believed that Campbell was killed because he uncovered information that members of the RUC were involved in criminality. This included robberies and arranging bogus gun battles between an informer and members of the crown forces. It was thought that Campbell was about to bring this information to his superiors and bring down the careers of many RUC and Special Branch officers.

The dead RUC man’s widow, Rosemary, rejecting the report, said:

“It does not contain the full account of the murder which I had hoped for.”

Reinforcing the Campbell family’s dissatisfaction with the Ombudsman’s findings is the lack of co-operation from former RUC members.

Now 89, former Chief Constable Newman claims he has no recollection of the killing.

Documents relating to the case have also disappeared.

And a retired RUC officer based in nearby Ballymena Barracks at the time has refused to co-operate with the inquiry.

Commenting on the report, Sinn Féin Justice spokesperson Gerry Kelly said this case details “the rotten core of the RUC” going back almost four decades. He said:

“As the report clearly demonstrates, this cannot be explained away by pointing the finger of blame at individual RUC officers.

“The head of Special Branch and probably even the Chief Constable knew of the threat to Sergeant Campbell’s life and took no action to prevent his killing.

“Once again, like other investigations into collusion and wrongdoing by the RUC, former officers have refused to co-operate with the Ombudsman and key files have been destroyed.”

❑  Robin Jackson is believed to have led one of the gangs that bombed Dublin on 17 May 1974, killing 26 people, and also the Miami Showband Massacre in 1975. He died in 1998, aged 49.