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Donald Mackay search called off Donald Mackay search called off
(3 months later)
A police search for the remains of murdered anti-drug campaigner Donald Mackay has been called off, dashing the hopes of his family that they would be able to give him a proper burial 36 years after his death.A police search for the remains of murdered anti-drug campaigner Donald Mackay has been called off, dashing the hopes of his family that they would be able to give him a proper burial 36 years after his death.
Acting on a tip-off, police began digging up a property outside the New South Wales town of Hay two weeks ago in the hopes they would recover the remains of Mackay, who was murdered by the mafia in 1977.Acting on a tip-off, police began digging up a property outside the New South Wales town of Hay two weeks ago in the hopes they would recover the remains of Mackay, who was murdered by the mafia in 1977.
Police said the search was called off on Wednesday with "no items of interest".Police said the search was called off on Wednesday with "no items of interest".
His children, Ruth Fletcher, Mary Mackay and James Mackay, released a statement revealing their sadness and paying tribute to police.His children, Ruth Fletcher, Mary Mackay and James Mackay, released a statement revealing their sadness and paying tribute to police.
"Our fervent hope was that we may have been able to finally know where our father's remains were and that, 36 years on, we could have given Dad a dignified burial. Sadly, that was not to be," they said."Our fervent hope was that we may have been able to finally know where our father's remains were and that, 36 years on, we could have given Dad a dignified burial. Sadly, that was not to be," they said.
"We are particularly grateful to officers of the NSW police Griffith area local command, who let our family know before the search was about to begin and then ensured that we were aware of progress.""We are particularly grateful to officers of the NSW police Griffith area local command, who let our family know before the search was about to begin and then ensured that we were aware of progress."
The children also paid tribute to NSW, Victoria and federal police, who have worked on the case for three decades, and reporters involved with the case.The children also paid tribute to NSW, Victoria and federal police, who have worked on the case for three decades, and reporters involved with the case.
"Although media attention can at times be upsetting, we are also grateful to those professional journalists who have tirelessly reported the story of Dad's murder throughout their careers, continually bringing it to the public's attention," they said."Although media attention can at times be upsetting, we are also grateful to those professional journalists who have tirelessly reported the story of Dad's murder throughout their careers, continually bringing it to the public's attention," they said.
The investigation into Mackay's death, Strike Force Fitr, will continue with detectives from the Homicide Squad and Griffith Local Area Command still on the case.The investigation into Mackay's death, Strike Force Fitr, will continue with detectives from the Homicide Squad and Griffith Local Area Command still on the case.
They thanked the landowners of the properties searched for their cooperation and issued a reminder that there is a $200,000 reward for information which leads to Mackay's remains.They thanked the landowners of the properties searched for their cooperation and issued a reminder that there is a $200,000 reward for information which leads to Mackay's remains.
Mackay went missing from Griffith on 15 July 1977 after being outed as the man whose tip-off led to police busting a marijuana growing operation run by the mafia.Mackay went missing from Griffith on 15 July 1977 after being outed as the man whose tip-off led to police busting a marijuana growing operation run by the mafia.
The body of the Liberal party candidate for the seat of Griffith was never found and though three people were convicted of conspiracy to murder him, nobody was ever charged with his murder.The body of the Liberal party candidate for the seat of Griffith was never found and though three people were convicted of conspiracy to murder him, nobody was ever charged with his murder.
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