New information in sympathy card to family of Paul McCauley is now a definite line of inquiry
DETECTIVES investigating the UDA mob murder of Paul McCauley say information contained in a sympathy card sent to his family has now given them a definite line of inquiry.
Brave Paul McCauley died earlier this month after he was attacked at a barbecue in the Waterside area of Derry by a 15-strong loyalist mob in July 2006.
After meting him out a savage an unprovoked attack, members of the gang then jumped on his fractured skull, leaving him with permanent brain damage.
The 38-year-old had been in a vegetative state ever since and had been cared for at a nursing unit in Derry watched over by his loving family.
Today, senior detectives from the PSNI’s Major Investigation Team based at Maydown in Derry say they have examined “vital” information contained in a sympathy card sent to Mr McCauley’s father, Jim.
He said he believes the letter he received may add “another facet” to the investigation into his son’s murder.
The officer leading the hunt for Mr McCauley’s killers, Detective Chief Inspector Michael Harvey, has issued an appeal to the person who wrote the card to contact police to assist their inquiry.
“I would specifically like to ask one person, who wrote to Mr Jim McCauley expressing their sympathy and disgust at the attack on Paul, to please contact the detectives at Maydown, as I believe they hold vital information in relation to this investigation,” he said.
Speaking to BBC Radio Foyle’s Breakfast programme this morning, Jim McCauley said the letter was one of hundreds the family had received after his son’s death.
“It is of interest because there is a feeling [from] this very kind letter that there may be further information from the individual that sent it,” he said.
“There may be another facet to the investigation that this individual may be aware of.
“The letters are not anonymous but [this is] a request to that individual to maybe speak to Det Ch Insp Michael Harvey or come back to me or any member of the family, and hopefully we can make contact again.”
He added that he had been disappointed that people he said he knew were holding crucial information had not cooperated with the police inquiry.
“I find that in a crime so horrendous the silence in both communities is appalling, and a sad reflection being tolerated by the good people in those communities that they cannot lever the truth out from the people.
“I’m quite definite that we will see justice in that the core that attacked Paul will be brought to book.”
“The people are not anonymous, they’ve not ridden into the night after the cowardly attack,” he added.
Only one person, Darryl Proctor, was convicted in relation to the murder of Mr McCauley.
He has refused to finger to police those who carried out the assault.
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