Police Scotland To Probe 1982 Nothern Ireland Shooting

Police Scotland is to investigate the alleged destruction of evidence by members of the security service in Northern Ireland more than 30 years ago.

The conviction of a prominent republican on a weapons offence was quashed last year after senior judges accused the law enforcement agencies of grave misconduct''.

Tapes produced during a surveillance operation at a Co Armagh hayshed where Martin McCauley was wounded and Michael Tighe shot dead by members of the Royal Ulster Constabulary in 1982 were found to have been concealed and destroyed, the Court of Appeal in Belfast has said.

Recordings revealed that no warnings were shouted by the officers before they opened fire, according to a review of the case.

McCauley went on to become one of the republican Colombia Three who skipped bail on unrelated South American terrorism charges.

A Police Service of Northern Ireland spokesman said: The PSNI can now confirm that Police Scotland will conduct the investigation into the actions of security service personnel in relation to the withholding, concealment and destruction of surveillance evidence concerning an operation at a hayshed at Ballynerry Road North, Lurgan, on November 24 1982, where Michael Tighe was shot dead and Martin McCauley was wounded by members of the RUC.''