Rutherglen Reformer

Support in bid to find IRA killers

MSP backs his campaign

- Douglas Dickie

An MSP has backed a Rutherglen man’s campaign to bring the killers of his cousin to justice.

Unarmed Dougald McCaughey was one of three Scottish soldiers murdered by the IRA in March 1971.

He, along with brothers John, 17, and Joseph, 18, McCaig, were lured from a Belfast bar to a remote spot by Republican women and shot dead.

Dougald’s cousin, David McCaughey, helped set up the Three Scottish Soldiers Campaign for Justice campaign last year.

Conservati­ve MSP Maurice Corry has now backed the campaign with the motion at the Scottish Parliament.

It states: “That the Parliament notes the view that the families of soldiers murdered by terrorists during the troubles in Northern Ireland deserve truth and justice, including those of the three young fusiliers, Dougald McCaughey, who was from Glasgow, and brothers, John and Joseph McCaig, who were from Ayr, who were killed in 1971.”

It goes on to say the parliament “understand­s that, in many cases, the murderers have never been publicly identified despite, it believes, government­s allegedly knowing who are suspected of committing the crimes; notes the calls for the government­s of the UK, the Republic of Ireland, Northern Ireland and Scotland to release these suspects’ names and all of the other relevant informatio­n that they hold to the families, including to those of Dougald, John and Joseph, so that the they might at last have some closure, and acknowledg­es what it sees as the great work of organisati­ons, such as the Three Scottish Soldiers justice campaign, in highlighti­ng these issues.”

Mr Corry said: “The work of campaign like the Three Scottish Soldiers Justice Campaign, clearly demonstrat­e the desire of the families and friends to have closure following the murders of their loved ones in Northern Ireland.

“In some cases, families have been waiting for decades to find out the truth about what happened and that’s not right.

“Now is the time for everyone to come together and do what they can to recognise the pain and suffering of the families and help bring them closure which is why I have brought my motion forward and will seek a debate in the Scottish Parliament to help highlight the issue.”

The motion has been supported by 16 MSPs since it was lodged.

Now is the time to come together

 ??  ?? Shot Dougald McCaughey was just 23 when he was killed
Shot Dougald McCaughey was just 23 when he was killed

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