PSNI seeks help in solving murder

Police detectives investigating the murder of a construction worker by the "Real IRA" last year, said yesterday they were convinced…

Police detectives investigating the murder of a construction worker by the "Real IRA" last year, said yesterday they were convinced they knew the identities of those involved.

Mr Davy Caldwell (51) died hours after he lifted a booby-trap lunch box inside the canteen of the Territorial Army camp in Derry. A father of four children and former member of the UDR, he was the first person murdered by the "Real IRA" since the August 1998 Omagh bomb atrocity.

PSNI officers yesterday renewed their appeal for help in solving the murder.

Ms Mavis Caldwell, who took part in the police appeal, said the 12 months since her husband's death had been a living hell.

READ MORE

Insp Robbie Paul said: "So far we have taken 540 witness statements in respect of this murder and eight people were arrested and interviewed in relation to their suspected involvement in the killing of Mr Caldwell.

"We are determined to solve this murder but we can only do so with the help of the community and that is why, on the first anniversary of Mr Caldwell's death, that we are renewing our appeal to members of the public who we know have information about the murder to come forward.

"We know that hours before Mr Caldwell was killed last August 1st, members of the 'Real IRA' cut through the perimeter fence around the camp and placed the booby-trap bomb on the workers' canteen table. When Mr Caldwell arrived for work, he lifted the device and when it exploded he sustained fatal abdominal injuries."

Mr Caldwell said: "We still haven't got over his death and every day I ask myself 'why Davy'.

"My 15-year-old daughter Gillian has been hit the most. She keeps asking why her daddy was killed and it's a question no one but his killers can answer.

"It's a terrible loss and the time since his death has been a real living hell. I miss Davy so much and I would not want other families go to through what we're going through."