Murder

Kevin Crilly Walks Free After Being Cleared of Undercover Soldier's Murder

Strategic Insights

Apr 1, 2011 — 1 min read

Kevin Crilly, a 60-year-old man from south Armagh, was found not guilty of the murder of undercover soldier Captain Robert Nairac in a Belfast Crown Court trial. Crilly, who had been on the run for nearly 30 years, showed no emotion when Judge Mr Justice Richard McLaughlin acquitted him of murder, kidnap, and false imprisonment charges. The judge found that the prosecution had not proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Crilly had knowingly participated in the abduction and murder of Captain Nairac.

Key Takeaways:

Kevin Crilly was acquitted of the murder of undercover soldier Captain Robert Nairac in a Belfast Crown Court trial.
The prosecution case relied heavily on comments Crilly made to BBC Spotlight and a clump of 650 hairs found in a Ford Cortina car.
The judge found that the prosecution had not proved beyond a reasonable doubt that Crilly had knowingly participated in the abduction and murder of Captain Nairac.
Crilly was not proven to have owned the Ford Cortina in which the hairs were discovered.
The prosecution did not prove that Crilly had acted with those who took Captain Nairac prisoner.
Liam Townson was identified as the man who murdered Captain Nairac, and was picked up by Crilly on the night of the abduction.
Crilly had been on the run for nearly 30 years before his arrest three years ago.

Statistics:

30 years: The length of time Kevin Crilly was on the run before his arrest.
650: The number of hairs found in the rear footwell area of the Ford Cortina car.
1977: The year in which Captain Robert Nairac was abducted and murdered.
60: The age of Kevin Crilly at the time of his acquittal.
Many: The number of trials and investigations that have attempted to solve the 1977 murder of Captain Robert Nairac.

Sources:

"Kevin Crilly leaves Laganside Court yesterday, Robert Nairac (top right), and the Three Steps Inn."

Belfast Telegraph

"Crilly the suspect in Nairac murder case was on run for 30 years"

The Northern Echo

"BBC Spotlight: The Case of Robert Nairac"

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