Emigrant pursued over Nairac death

A man sought by the British authorities in the IRA killing of undercover SAS spy has been traced to New Jersey after a 32-year pursuit.

Patrick Maguire, is alleged to be one of those who unmasked and executed Captain Robert Nairac.

Maguire fled to America on a visitor’s visa and has since become a U.S. resident.

Nairac ventured into the heartland of the Provisional IRA when he absurdly posed as a member of the Official IRA at the Three Steps Inn at Drumintee, two miles from the Irish border.

He attempted to fool locals into revealing IRA secrets by singing rebel songs but was quickly identified as an undercover British spy.

He was interrogated and killed by the IRA across the border in County Louth. His body was never found despite intensive recovery efforts in recent years.

Mr Maguire now lives with wife, Mary, 57, and their children, Anne Marie, 26, Christine, 24, Keira, 23 and Patrick junior, 22, in the quiet New Jersey suburb of Dumont.

Speaking to journalists at his home in Dumont, he said he had regrets about the events of that dark night in 1977.

“There’s nothing I can say about that night... Of course I have regrets about it... but I’m not going to say any more.

“I’m not going to go back into the past. And if the past catches up with me, then... There’s nothing can change things now and I’ve told you I regret it but that’s as far as I can go... There’s nothing can change it, it’s 30-odd years ago.

“Things have changed in the north now. If they have progress in the north well and good, but they’re not going to find the body here.”

Maguire - who works as a tiler and building worker in Manhattan - says he would like to return to South Armagh.

“I’d like to go home because I’ve lost a lot over there too... I’ve lost two brothers and a sister and a mother and father. There’s been many losses over the 30 or so years of looking over my shoulder. Has it been worth it? No, of course it hasn’t.”

Urgent Appeal