Cpl Jim Elliott - 50 year fight for the truth

Hi, my name is Jim and my father, Corporal James Elliott, was abducted and murdered by the Provisional IRA fifty years ago last month. My dad was taken at gunpoint from his lorry at the border at Newry, tortured, and his dead body used as a lure for an attempted bomb attack on Security Forces.

 

I was twelve years old when this evil tragedy destroyed my family. For the last fifty years, my brothers and I have fought for the truth about how and where my father was murdered. We know now that Gardai arrested two men later convicted for planting the explosives booby-trap next to his body, but these men were never questioned for murder on either side of the border. We were only informed of this in 2005.

 

Twenty months ago, we applied to the Attorney General to instruct a new inquest into my father's death. This application was made because the 1972 inquest failed to address events of the 30 hours between his abduction and the dumping of his body. We also assert that the 1972 inquest verdict is inconsistent with the evidence heard and fresh evidence now available.

 

Four days before we reflected on the fiftieth anniversary of this tragedy, the Attorney General refused our application. We are determined not to be defeated by the system that has let down our family so badly but we wish to continue the fight for truth both north and south of the border with added vigour. We are currently fighting to get the files on the explosives conviction from the Special Criminal Court in Dublin and fighting to get the remaining member of the IRA duo questioned for the murder.

 

We are asking you to contribute in support of our fight. All funds raised will cover costs incurred in pursuing truth and justice for my father. Any funds raised that we cannot use will be given to support other innocent victims of terrorism in their struggles for truth and justice. I would like to thank you for your support and donation.