Former gardaí urged to co-operate in Tom Oliver murder investigation

Former members of An Garda Síochána have been urged by senior political figures, including former taoiseach John Bruton, to co-operate with an investigation into the IRA’s abduction and murder of farmer Tom Oliver in 1991.

Mr Oliver, a farmer from the Cooley Peninsula in Co Louth, was abducted and shot by the IRA in July 1991, who later claimed that he had been an informer, though this has always been rejected.

The inquiry, which is part of Operation Kenova led by Jon Boutcher, the former chief constable of Bedfordshire, has uncovered DNA evidence from the clothes of Mr Oliver, which could track one of his killers.

Mr Boutcher said some former gardaí had indicated they were not willing to speak to investigators, though the reasons for their reluctance was so far unknown.

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When asked if some ex-gardaí had refused, Mr Boutcher said “some initially have, yes, but we don’t necessarily take no for an answer. We’re still working [to] speak to some.” The Covid-19 pandemic has delayed efforts, too.

John Bruton, who attended Mr Oliver’s funeral, said he was calling on every member of An Garda Síochána and every citizen of the State to provide any evidence or information that they have.

“I attended Tom’s funeral, I didn’t know him personally but he was from a neighbouring county and someone who I know was a patriotic Irishman,” he told The Irish Times.

Expressing surprise that ex-gardaí would not help, he said: “This is all completely new to me, I have to say, because An Garda Síochána themselves have been, as we know, the victims of subversive killings.”

Meanwhile, the former minister for justice and the now chairman of the Oireachtas Committee on Foreign Affairs, Charlie Flanagan, said every garda, serving and retired, should co-operate. “Such reports are disturbing,” he said.

‘Code of silence’

Meanwhile. Fine Gael Louth TD Fergus O’Dowd also said the “code of silence” surrounding the “savage killing” of Mr Oliver 30 years ago “must come to an end”.

“Tom Oliver was killed in a vile and appalling murder, and his family have fought tooth and nail for justice and closure since the day he died,” said Mr O’Dowd, who urged locals to come forward with information.

“Anyone who has information about this horrific murder should come forward and assist investigators, so that those culpable will be held responsible and the Oliver family can finally find truth, justice and accountability.”

The body of the father-of-seven farmer was dumped across the Border in Co Armagh.

His son Eugene, at the age of 13, went looking for his father after he failed to return from calving a cow and discovered his Mark IV Ford Cortina in a field with the keys in the ignition.

The car was recovered by gardaí, but later went missing. Now, Mr Boutcher said he wanted to know what happened to the car, urging locals and anyone in the car trade to share information.

Questioned, An Garda Síochána said it was working closely with Operation Kenova on the Oliver investigation, though it noted that “former garda members are private citizens”.