SAOIRSE32

Irelandclick
By Ciarán Barnes
02/08/2008

A Shankill Butcher is to face questioning over the unsolved murder of a West Belfast man more than 30 years ago.
Detectives from the PSNI’s Historical Enquiries Team (HET) are planning to arrest William Moore, who was sentenced to life in 1979 for his role in 11 sectarian cut-throat killings that shocked the world.
The 59-year-old is suspected of involvement in the January 1974 murder of respected republican John Crawford near Milltown Cemetery.
The killing occurred more than a year before the Shankill Butchers began their campaign of slaughter.
Mr Crawford was beaten and shot dead by a four-man UVF gang, which also included Ballymurphy Catholic and British army agent Jimmy McKenna.
The HET has been probing the controversial murder for more than a year.
Sources close to the investigation told the Andersonstown News that Moore is “very likely” to be questioned about the killing.
Last April the Shankill Butcher was named for the first time in this newspaper as being one of those who abducted Mr Crawford.
A HET source said: “It’s very likely that we will question those named in connection with the murder. There’s not much evidence to go on after more than 30 years, other than reports, but we can still question people.”
John Craword’s son, Paul Crawford, has been campaigning for eight years to have his dad’s killers put behind bars.
He said: “I don’t care if they are out in two years because of the Good Friday Agreement or get a recorded sentence. I just want to make sure that collusion never happens again, that no families have to suffer what we have.”
In 1978 UVF man Raymond Glover pleaded guilty to driving the car used in the John Crawford murder. He was given 10 life sentences for his role in a total of six sectarian killings. The Police Ombudsman is investigating the RUC’s original handling of the case.
The Crawford family insist detectives never investigated their relative’s murder properly.
The shooting occurred in full view of RUC and British army watchtowers and a driving licence belonging to one of the killers was found at the murder scene.
The licence was never recovered by police. The Crawford family has asked anyone with information on its whereabouts to contact the Andersonstown News on 02890 619000.