Appeals for witnesses to deaths of man and woman during Troubles
The families of Teresa Carson and loyalist William Marchant have been described as waiting for many years for answers about the deaths of their loved ones.
Advertisement
These appeals will involve distributing posters and organised leaflet drops in the areas relating to both investigations.
Ms Carson (47) was found dead at the side of the Glen Road in the early hours of Sunday, November 24th, 1974.
It is understood she had witnessed a robbery St John's GAC Social Club on Whiterock Road hours before.
She was last seen in the grounds of the club at 12.15am getting into a white coloured car.
Advertisement
Mr Marchant (39), who was also known as Billy or Frenchie, was shot outside the Progressive Unionist Party offices on Shankill Road at approximately 3pm on April 28th, 1987, and later died in hospital.
A brown coloured Datsun Bluebird car, registration number YOI 2557, was used in the attack.
It had been hijacked earlier in the day after a family was held at gunpoint overnight at Tullymore Gardens in west Belfast.
The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery has launched appeals for witnesses to come forward in relation to investigations into both deaths following requests from the victims' families.
Advertisement
Assistant commissioner Amanda Logan said their families asked the Commission to help them find out what happened to their loved ones.
'We have always underlined the Commission's unwavering commitment to helping families find the unvarnished truth and this is at the centre of our witness appeals,' she said.
Ireland
UK defence ministry obliged to preserve records re...
Read More
'The relatives of Teresa Carson and William Marchant believe that someone may hold vital information that could prove key to the investigations.
'These families have waited many years for answers and we at the Commission are committed to doing everything we can to support them. If members of the public have any information about either of these cases, please come forward.'
Advertisement
She added: 'No matter how unimportant your information may seem, what you share could be vital to finding the truth for the families. All information we receive will be treated in the strictest confidence.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
7 minutes ago
- BBC News
Plea for safety measures on dangerous Peterbrough road
A call has been made for better signs and speed-calming measures to tackle dangerous driving on a city Knight, an Independent member on Peterborough City Council for Orton Waterville, said speeding on Goldhay Way was "ridiculous", and it was becoming a "hotspot for road crashes".She said the road with sharp bends was badly lit with trees covering street lights, and she feared more accidents would comes after a 57-year-old cyclist was critically injured in a hit-and-run on Goldhay Way on Saturday. It happened between Burswood and Kinnears Walk at about 18:30 BST, with the driver failing to stop at the scene, police said. Ms Knight said the pedestrian and cycle paths on both sides of the road had safety barriers removed a few years ago.A spokesperson for the council said the barriers were removed "as part of improving the cycle route to the south of Goldhay Way. This was done because staggered barriers can be inaccessible to some users". Ms Knight said a speed camera was "set alight at least twice before it was taken out of use".She added: "Pushing for a 20mph [limit] is not going to work. People don't care [about a speed limit] ... unless it is enforceable."Angus Ellis, the council's Labour cabinet member for transport, said: "We were saddened to hear about the collision on Goldhay Way and we will be working with the police to review the area and consider our options." Follow Peterborough news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
The Independent
33 minutes ago
- The Independent
Man who was living off-grid to be sentenced for murder of dogwalker
A man who murdered a grandmother on her morning dog walk in a 'vicious and brutal attack' while he was living off-grid to avoid recall to prison is to be sentenced. Roy Barclay, 56, subjected 57-year-old Anita Rose to 'numerous kicks, stamps and blows' as she walked her springer spaniel Bruce in Brantham, Suffolk, on July 24 2024. The mother of six was found by passers-by but died in hospital four days later. Barclay, who denied murder but was found guilty following an earlier trial at Ipswich Crown Court, is due to be sentenced at the same court on Wednesday. Ms Rose's eldest daughter, who gave her name as Jess, said after Barclay's conviction last month that 'criminals cannot remain at large'. 'There's too much at stake and our communities need protecting,' she said. She continued: 'We need to make sure that our communities are safe and that people are monitored, that criminals are taken back to prison when they break the terms of their probation.' Barclay had previously been convicted and jailed over a 2015 attack on a pensioner. Prosecutors said this bore similarities to the attack on Ms Rose. Barclay had been released from prison in February 2020 but had not been living at a fixed address. He had been wanted on recall at the time of his attack on Ms Rose over a breach of his licence conditions. It is understood that the Probation Service issued a recall notice for Barclay following a breach of his licence conditions. Suffolk Police said there would be a review of information-sharing processes. Judge Martyn Levett warned Barclay, after jurors returned their guilty verdict: 'The sentence is one that inevitably is going to be life in prison, and the length of it is going to be very lengthy.' Prosecutor Christopher Paxton KC earlier told the court that Barclay 'lived mostly in the countryside, wandering the fields and lanes, sleeping in various makeshift camps'. 'He lived off-grid because for two years, Roy Barclay had been unlawfully at large,' said Mr Paxton. 'He had been on the run trying to avoid the police and authorities to try and avoid being recalled back to prison.' Jurors were told that Barclay had previously pleaded guilty, over a separate incident in 2015, to grievous bodily harm with intent over an attack on an 82-year-old man in Walton-on-the-Naze, Essex. The pensioner, Leslie Gunfield, had told Barclay that he would inform security about him going through rubbish bins at a Co-op supermarket, the court heard. Mr Gunfield was left with serious injuries to his head and required 10 titanium plates for fractures he suffered after being attacked by Barclay. He was found with a dog lead wrapped around his foot, which the prosecution said was similar to the way Ms Rose's body was found, with a dog lead 'tightly' wrapped around her leg.
BBC News
37 minutes ago
- BBC News
'Fearless' retired Essex Police dog dies after short illness
A "fearless and inquisitive" retired police dog has died after a short had been part of the Essex Police force for five years before he retired in April his time in the force he helped detain suspects, search for missing people and find key evidence including 2021 Diesel and his handler, Sgt Jamie Edwards, were recognised at the National Service Dog Bravery and Achievement Awards for their courage. Even in his final weeks of service, the determined hound's work helped to ensure convictions for three men responsible for violent robberies in Edwards said: "I wanted to be a dog handler since I was a child and Diesel was exactly how I imagined a police dog would be."Fearless and inquisitive, he kept us both safe as we spent five years patrolling Essex together."After retiring, Diesel became Sgt Edwards' family dog and loved running around in the garden and playing with his children. "At the end, he fell asleep for the final time cuddled by us all, and he leaves huge paws to fill and many happy memories," Sgt Edwards added. Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
