24 June 1999 Edition

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Fullerton family demands reopening of investigation

By Yamila Petruchansky

The family of Sinn Féin Councillor Eddie Fullerton from Buncrana in County Donegal, who was killed by the UDA eight years ago, are demanding that the investigation into his death be reopened. Fullerton was shot dead at his Buncrana home in the early hours of 25 May 1991.

Author and journalist Seán McPhilemy alleges in his book `The Committee', that LVF leader Billy Wright, a leading loyalist and a high ranking RUC officer were among those who planned Fullerton's murder.

In the book, a named Derry loyalist also alleges crown force involvement in the `operation'. He claims that a four-man gang, led by a man identified as ``BM'' were transported in two D-40 Gemini high speed rubber dinghies across Lough Foyle to Muff from where they were taken in two cars to Fullerton's home on Cockhill Road in Buncrana.

After the killing, the book alleges, the gang was driven out of the seaside town at high speed before dumping their weapons and clothing in a disused farmhouse in Muff after which the two cars took different directions - one to North Derry and the other to Strabane.

Eddie Fullerton's widow, after reading the book, said that she believes the allegations of collusion between the crown forces and her husband's killers.

The book also links Fullerton's death to his arrest and detention in Strand Road RUC barracks in Derry a week before his killing. Mrs Fullerton is also demanding that all the people implicated in her husband's killing and named in the Committee should be questioned about their alleged involvement.

Buncrana Sinn Féin Councillor Jim Ferry has called on the Department of Justice in Dublin to reopen its investigation into the killing.

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