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Sgt Joseph Campbell: RUC commanders 'could have prevented officer's murder' Sgt Joseph Campbell: RUC commanders 'could have prevented officer's murder'
(about 9 hours later)
The murder of a police officer 37 years ago could have been prevented by senior Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) commanders, a police watchdog has said. The murder of a police officer 37 years ago could have been prevented by senior Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) commanders, the police ombudsman said.
Sgt Joseph Campbell, a father-of-eight, was shot dead as he closed Cushendall RUC station in County Antrim in 1977.Sgt Joseph Campbell, a father-of-eight, was shot dead as he closed Cushendall RUC station in County Antrim in 1977.
Police Ombudsman Michael Maguire has published a new report into the death. "Senior RUC officers and management had information on a very specific threat and failed to respond," Police Ombudsman Michael Maguire said.
He said senior RUC commanders failed to act on warnings from junior officers about specific threats to Sgt Campbell, made long before he was murdered. But he said he did not believe the RUC colluded in the murder.
In his report, published on Friday, he said senior RUC officers failed to act on warnings from junior officers concerning a specific threat against Sgt Campbell, made long before he was murdered.
Speaking on BBC NI's Good Morning Ulster on Friday, Dr Maguire said the head of special branch at that time knew about this threat and it was "highly likely" that the chief constable at the time, Kenneth Newman, also knew.
However, Mr Newman told the ombudsman investigation that he did not remember this.
"There was no corrective action taken by the RUC to warn Joe Campbell, increase patrols or move him from his position, none of that happened," Dr Maguire said.
"There was a prolonged failure in duty to the Campbell family,"
Dr Maguire said the original investigation into the murder was "very poor" and that the 1980 investigation had been undermined by a lack of information.
"The impact of the murder of Joe Campbell reverberated throughout RUC at the time, I was surprised the chief constable did not recollect it," he said.
"There is no doubt in my mind that the Campbell family were failed by the RUC."
'Wider conspiracy''Wider conspiracy'
In his 50-page report, Dr Maguire also found that the two criminal investigations into the shooting had been flawed, and hampered by the withholding of sensitive intelligence information, including the threats to the victim's life. In his 50-page report, Dr Maguire found that the two criminal investigations into the shooting had been flawed, and hampered by the withholding of sensitive intelligence information, including the threats to the victim's life.
The Campbell family has welcomed elements of the ombudsman's report, but said they were unhappy that Dr Maguire's investigation did not find evidence of RUC collusion with loyalist paramilitaries.The Campbell family has welcomed elements of the ombudsman's report, but said they were unhappy that Dr Maguire's investigation did not find evidence of RUC collusion with loyalist paramilitaries.
Sgt Campbell had been a well-known and respected police officer in the County Antrim community for many years.Sgt Campbell had been a well-known and respected police officer in the County Antrim community for many years.
The shooting took place on the evening of 25 February 1977 and since then, his widow and children have campaigned for more information about the circumstances surrounding his death.The shooting took place on the evening of 25 February 1977 and since then, his widow and children have campaigned for more information about the circumstances surrounding his death.
Welcoming some of the report, his widow Rosemary, said "I do so because the extensive account of negligence and indifference by the RUC before and after the murder will, I hope, encourage others to complete the search for the very truth which the RUC went to such lengths to bury."Welcoming some of the report, his widow Rosemary, said "I do so because the extensive account of negligence and indifference by the RUC before and after the murder will, I hope, encourage others to complete the search for the very truth which the RUC went to such lengths to bury."
The Campbell family believe that the killing was carried out by a loyalist paramilitary - Robin Jackson - with the aid of rogue elements of the security forces.The Campbell family believe that the killing was carried out by a loyalist paramilitary - Robin Jackson - with the aid of rogue elements of the security forces.
Jackson was a member of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF).Jackson was a member of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF).
'Systematic destruction''Systematic destruction'
The family has alleged a wider conspiracy of a cover-up, but Dr Maguire has been unable to substantiate all of their allegations.The family has alleged a wider conspiracy of a cover-up, but Dr Maguire has been unable to substantiate all of their allegations.
However, he found both the victim and his family were failed by the actions of the RUC before and after the shooting.However, he found both the victim and his family were failed by the actions of the RUC before and after the shooting.
Dr Maguire said: "I have to conclude that Sgt Campbell, a dedicated community police officer in the Glens of Antrim, was failed by senior members of the police service, of which he was a respected member."Dr Maguire said: "I have to conclude that Sgt Campbell, a dedicated community police officer in the Glens of Antrim, was failed by senior members of the police service, of which he was a respected member."
He added that there was "sufficient, reliable evidence that senior police officers throughout the RUC's command structure" were aware of the threats to Sgt Campbell's life and "failed to act upon them".He added that there was "sufficient, reliable evidence that senior police officers throughout the RUC's command structure" were aware of the threats to Sgt Campbell's life and "failed to act upon them".
Dr Maguire said he uncovered the systematic destruction and removal of RUC documents, and adds that some retired RUC officers refused to cooperate with his investigation.Dr Maguire said he uncovered the systematic destruction and removal of RUC documents, and adds that some retired RUC officers refused to cooperate with his investigation.
Previous investigationsPrevious investigations
There were two RUC investigations into the murder of Sgt Campbell, carried out in 1977 and 1980.There were two RUC investigations into the murder of Sgt Campbell, carried out in 1977 and 1980.
As a result of the 1980 investigation, a member of RUC Special Branch in Ballymena, County Antrim, was arrested and tried for the murder.As a result of the 1980 investigation, a member of RUC Special Branch in Ballymena, County Antrim, was arrested and tried for the murder.
The Crown case had been that a "rogue" Special Branch member had been carrying out criminal activities, including armed robberies in County Antrim, and had murdered Sgt Campbell to prevent him from passing on information about him.The Crown case had been that a "rogue" Special Branch member had been carrying out criminal activities, including armed robberies in County Antrim, and had murdered Sgt Campbell to prevent him from passing on information about him.
The Special Branch officer was acquitted of murder.The Special Branch officer was acquitted of murder.
'Lined up to be murdered''Lined up to be murdered'
Thirty years later, Police Ombudsman inquiries into the killing uncovered new evidence, but the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) decided no further prosecutions would follow.Thirty years later, Police Ombudsman inquiries into the killing uncovered new evidence, but the Public Prosecution Service (PPS) decided no further prosecutions would follow.
The Police Ombudsman's investigators heard from Special Branch officers who had passed their concerns about Sgt Campbell's safety on to their senior officers, including that "Joe was to be lined-up to be murdered".The Police Ombudsman's investigators heard from Special Branch officers who had passed their concerns about Sgt Campbell's safety on to their senior officers, including that "Joe was to be lined-up to be murdered".
Army intelligence officers had also been aware of the risk to Sgt Campbell.Army intelligence officers had also been aware of the risk to Sgt Campbell.
'Suspicion''Suspicion'
One police officer was told by a member of the public that there was a link between a bank robbery in Cushendall in early 1977 and the murder of Sgt Campbell several weeks later.One police officer was told by a member of the public that there was a link between a bank robbery in Cushendall in early 1977 and the murder of Sgt Campbell several weeks later.
The officer passed this statement on, and said he was always surprised that he was never asked about it.The officer passed this statement on, and said he was always surprised that he was never asked about it.
In conclusion Dr Maguire said: "The inadequacies of those investigations further undermined the prospect of effective investigation of the murder of Sgt Campbell and promoted an atmosphere of suspicion in which allegations of a wider conspiracy, whether correct or incorrect, have subsequently thrived and the family of Sgt Campbell have been failed."In conclusion Dr Maguire said: "The inadequacies of those investigations further undermined the prospect of effective investigation of the murder of Sgt Campbell and promoted an atmosphere of suspicion in which allegations of a wider conspiracy, whether correct or incorrect, have subsequently thrived and the family of Sgt Campbell have been failed."
The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), which replaced the RUC in 2001, expressed its sympathies to the Campbell family and said the ombudsman's report made "difficult reading".The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), which replaced the RUC in 2001, expressed its sympathies to the Campbell family and said the ombudsman's report made "difficult reading".
PSNI Deputy Chief Constable Alistair Finlay said: "It is clear there were significant shortcomings in the RUC handling of information prior to the murder and in both subsequent police investigations into Sgt Campbell's murder."PSNI Deputy Chief Constable Alistair Finlay said: "It is clear there were significant shortcomings in the RUC handling of information prior to the murder and in both subsequent police investigations into Sgt Campbell's murder."
Mr Finlay expressed disappointment that "a number of retired officers felt unable to engage with this Police Ombudsman's investigation".Mr Finlay expressed disappointment that "a number of retired officers felt unable to engage with this Police Ombudsman's investigation".
However he added that policing "back in 1977 operated in a very different context" and said RUC officers investigated 112 troubles-related murders that year.However he added that policing "back in 1977 operated in a very different context" and said RUC officers investigated 112 troubles-related murders that year.