Detectives appeal for information on 1992 Thierafurth murder of Peter McCormack in Kilcoo
Detectives from Legacy Investigation Branch, investigating the murder of Peter McCormack in the Thierafurth Inn in Kilcoo on 19 November 1992, are appealing for information on the 31st Anniversary of his murder.
Mr McCormack, a 42 year old former schoolteacher from Drumena Road in Kilcoo, was shot dead when two gunmen burst into the public house and opened fire on customers inside at around 9pm.
Three other customers, including a 69 year old man who was registered blind, were also injured in the attack.
The Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Byrne from Legacy Investigation Branch said: “Mr McCormack was enjoying a drink in his local pub when he was murdered.
“The bar was full of customers about to take part in a charity darts match. Peter was an innocent victim of a sickening sectarian attack.
“Police believe that the gunmen made their escape in a Grey Ford Orion car that was found abandoned a few miles away from the bar in Tollymore Forest Park. It had been stolen from an address in east Belfast earlier in the day.
“More than 30 years have now passed since Peter’s murder and I am appealing for anyone who has any knowledge of what happened that evening who have not spoken to police previously, or who have any new information, to do so now.
“It is not too late, if anyone now feels they are able to talk to us, we are ready to listen.”
Detective Chief Inspector Byrne added: “A number of people were involved in Peter’s murder. They know who they are and they are going to have to live with that for the rest of their lives.
“I would appeal directly to them to do the right thing and make a difference to Peter’s family by making themselves known to police.”
Anyone with information can contact detectives in Legacy Investigation Branch on 101 or at:
LIBEnquiries@psni.pnn.police.uk
You can also submit a report online using our non-emergency reporting form via:
www.psni.police.uk/makeareport/ or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or online at:
***
Hazzard calls for interstate case against Legacy Act after murder appeal
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard has called on the Irish government to pursue an interstate case against the British government’s Legacy Act following an appeal by the PSNI for information into the murder of Peter McCormack in 1992.
The South Down MP said: “Last year’s ruling from Justice Humpreys was a watershed moment for families in South Down. It highlighted the ‘damning levels’ of collusion between loyalist paramilitaries and the state during the conflict.
“The court highlighted flaws in the original investigation, including the failure of the RUC, and later the PSNI to properly investigate and share new evidence.
“The PSNI has now belatedly appealed for information relating to this murder. We expect that this appeal for information is the first step in providing the survivors of the Thierafurth attack and all those linked to this case by the 2016 Police Ombudsman’s report with a proper investigation into loyalist attacks in south Down in the 1990s.”
Chris Hazzard added: “This week, one of the survivors of the Thierafurth attack, John McEvoy, will go to court to challenge the British government’s shameful Legacy Act.
“The British government wishes to pull the shutters down on investigations like that of the Thierafurth attack to block victims, survivors and families from ever getting justice through the courts and to hide the role of British state forces and their agencies in the conflict.
“The Irish government must take an interstate case against the British government to remove the burden of legal action from individual families.
