New probe into Marks shooting

New probe into Marks shooting

14 November 2018

SENIOR investigators from the Police Ombudsman’s office will be in Downpatrick today as part of an attempt to gather information about the controversial police shooting of IRA man Colum Marks in the town more than 27 years ago.

Marks was shot dead when members of an RUC undercover unit opened fire during an attempted mortar attack on security forces in April 1991.

The 29 year-old was part of two-man IRA team which was trying to murder members of the security forces with a horizontal mortar in St Patrick’s Avenue when they were surprised by police officers.

As Marks fled in the dark into Dunleath Park, he was shot three times by a sergeant from the RUC’s elite Headquarters Mobile Support Unit. He lived long enough to reach the Downe Hospital but died during emergency surgery.

The Marks family has claimed the RUC was aware of a planned IRA operation more than eight hours before the shooting and so should have been able to arrest any suspects.

In 2016 legal action, taken in a bid to compel the Police Ombudsman to investigate the shooting, ended after it emerged that a new eyewitness had came forward with the watchdog agreeing to take on the case.

The 29 year-old’s family previously claimed there was evidence to suggest a state agent was involved.

The Ombudsman’s office is now appealing for anyone who may have information to help with their investigation to come forward. Between 10am and 6pm today, investigators will be based at the South Eastern Regional College in the town.

“We are appealing for anyone who may have any information about this incident to come and speak to our investigators”, said a spokesperson for the Ombudsman’s office.

“Alternatively, anyone with any information can contact us on our freephone witness appeal line, which is 0800 345 7106.”

South Down MP Chris Hazzard said the Marks family has “battled for decades” to establish the full truth of the IRA man died.

“I welcome the fact that the Ombudsman’s office are intensifying their efforts to investigate the incident and the RUC actions surrounding it,” he said.

Mr Hazzard added: “This witness appeal being undertaken by the Ombudsman is therefore vitally important and I would call upon anybody with any information to come forward either in person to the witness clinic at the South Eastern Regional College or, alternatively, use the confidential phone number provided.”