Family of UDR man murdered by IRA granted access to court file

The President of the High Court has ordered that the family of Corporal James Elliott, a part-time Ulster Defence Regiment member murdered by the Provisional IRA in 1972, be granted access to court files relating to a Special Criminal Court trial. Mr Justice David Barniville made the order following an application by the Elliott family, who have sought answers regarding the killing for decades. Corporal Elliott was kidnapped and shot in April 1972 near Newry; his body was subsequently booby-trapped with explosives. Two men from Inniskeen, County Monaghan, were convicted in July 1972 of conspiracy to commit an explosion and possessing explosives in connection with the incident, though the family was not informed of the trial until 2005. The judge found that providing access to the file served the interests of justice and supported legacy work arising from the Good Friday Agreement. The Courts Service and State respondents did not oppose the application.