This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/northern_ireland/8355648.stm
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Man is charged with Nairac murder | Man is charged with Nairac murder |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A man has been charged with the murder of British Army officer Robert Nairac more than 32 years ago. | A man has been charged with the murder of British Army officer Robert Nairac more than 32 years ago. |
| Kevin Crilly, 59, from Lower Foughill Road, Jonesborough, was charged with the murder and two counts of kidnapping and false imprisonment. | Kevin Crilly, 59, from Lower Foughill Road, Jonesborough, was charged with the murder and two counts of kidnapping and false imprisonment. |
| He was released on bail following the hearing at Newry Magistrates Court. | He was released on bail following the hearing at Newry Magistrates Court. |
| Captain Nairac, 29, originally from Gloucestershire, was abducted by the IRA from Dromintee, County Armagh, on 14 May 1977. His body was never found. | |
| The accused spoke only to confirm he understood the charges against him. | The accused spoke only to confirm he understood the charges against him. |
| A detective sergeant told the judge on Wednesday that he could connect Mr Crilly with the charges. | A detective sergeant told the judge on Wednesday that he could connect Mr Crilly with the charges. |
| 'Traces of blood' | 'Traces of blood' |
| He told the court Captain Nairac was abducted after a scuffle broke out at the Three Steps bar in Dromintee in south Armagh. | He told the court Captain Nairac was abducted after a scuffle broke out at the Three Steps bar in Dromintee in south Armagh. |
| BACKGROUND | BACKGROUND |
| The kidnap and murder of British Army Captain Robert Nairac is one of the most mysterious cases of Northern Ireland's Troubles. | The kidnap and murder of British Army Captain Robert Nairac is one of the most mysterious cases of Northern Ireland's Troubles. |
| On the night of his disappearance on 14 May 1977, he was working undercover without backup in the republican heartland of south Armagh, attempting to gather intelligence on IRA operations. | On the night of his disappearance on 14 May 1977, he was working undercover without backup in the republican heartland of south Armagh, attempting to gather intelligence on IRA operations. |
| Accounts of the final hours before his disappearance have the Catholic public school-educated officer in a bar singing Irish rebel songs in a fake local accent. | Accounts of the final hours before his disappearance have the Catholic public school-educated officer in a bar singing Irish rebel songs in a fake local accent. |
| He was posthumously awarded the George Cross - the citation praises his resistance to his abductors and bravery under "a succession of exceptionally savage assaults". | He was posthumously awarded the George Cross - the citation praises his resistance to his abductors and bravery under "a succession of exceptionally savage assaults". |
| Three men have previously been convicted of murdering Capt Nairac. | Three men have previously been convicted of murdering Capt Nairac. |
| The court heard that the car used to drive Captain Nairac away was either owned or driven by Mr Crilly. | The court heard that the car used to drive Captain Nairac away was either owned or driven by Mr Crilly. |
| Two weeks later, a strand of hair consistent with a sample taken from Captain Nairac's hairbrush was found in the car. | Two weeks later, a strand of hair consistent with a sample taken from Captain Nairac's hairbrush was found in the car. |
| It's believed he was driven across the border to Ravensdale forest in County Louth, where two fishermen later found traces of blood. | It's believed he was driven across the border to Ravensdale forest in County Louth, where two fishermen later found traces of blood. |
| At the time Mr Crilly was interviewed by police about Captain Nairac's disappearance, but he was later released. | At the time Mr Crilly was interviewed by police about Captain Nairac's disappearance, but he was later released. |
| He spent 29 years in the United States, and the court was told he only returned to Northern Ireland after the break-up of a long-term relationship. | He spent 29 years in the United States, and the court was told he only returned to Northern Ireland after the break-up of a long-term relationship. |
| The court heard the police had spoken to the FBI about what he did in the intervening years in the US. | The court heard the police had spoken to the FBI about what he did in the intervening years in the US. |
| Police opposed an application for bail because of the severity of the murder charge. | Police opposed an application for bail because of the severity of the murder charge. |
| A defence solicitor said that Mr Crilly had been granted bail in May 2008 after being charged with false imprisonment and kidnapping and had consistently met with all bail conditions. | A defence solicitor said that Mr Crilly had been granted bail in May 2008 after being charged with false imprisonment and kidnapping and had consistently met with all bail conditions. |
| After some legal argument, he was eventually released on bail. | After some legal argument, he was eventually released on bail. |