Top detectives now hunting McCauley attackers

Justice Minister David Ford said full responsibility for the investigation was handed over to the detectives from the PSNI C2 serious crime branch - also pursuant of the killers of Captain Robert Nairac and at the forefront of investigations into the Mount Vernon UVF and dissident republicans - following a review of the case completed last September.

The revelations were made during an adjournment debate on the Paul McCauley case - attended by local MLAs - at the Stormont Assembly last week.

Assembly members from all political parties issued a joint appeal for people to come forward with information on the brutal sectarian attack which left Mr McCauley in a coma after he was set upon by a gang of up to 15 people in Chapel Road whilst enjoying a barbecue in July 2006.

Daryl Proctor, now aged 20, from the Fountain estate, was just 15 when he took part in the vicious assault and is the sole convict to date.

But the Assembly heard last week once again how the twelfth report of the Independent Monitoring Committee (IMC) in October 2006, had fingered members of the UDA in Londonderry as having been involved in the crime.

During the debate SDLP MLA Pól Callaghan “called on everybody, including Daryl Proctor, who was at the scene at the time of the attack make known whatever information they have to the relevant authorities.

“They need to look to their own humanity and they should make that information available to the police for the sake of that family and the wider community and for better relations and a better future for our city and for the North.” Mr Callaghan’s call was met with cross-party accord.

Responding to comments from local MLAs The Justice Minister advised that a serious crime review into the incident commenced just under a year ago in March 2010.

“As a result of the review by the PSNI’s serious crime review team, a number of investigative lines of inquiry were proposed. On completion of the review, in September 2010, responsibility for the investigation was passed to C2 serious crime branch,” he explained.

“The senior investigating officer in the case met Paul McCauley and his parents, and he has given assurances that the investigation is a priority case for the C2 serious crime branch and is progressing to identify persons not yet charged for the attack on Mr McCauley. A number of lines of inquiry are being pursued.”

The lead detective has also given assurances that he has enough money and officers to secure more arrests and bring more charges for the crime.

Said Mr Ford: “The senior investigating officer is satisfied that he has sufficient resources to advance the investigation. Alongside those specific facts that I have received from the PSNI, I can make some further general points about the dedication and capabilities of the Police Service.

“The case is being treated with the utmost seriousness. It is being dealt with by the most senior investigative authority in the PSNI, namely C2 serious crime branch, and the family are being kept informed of the progress of the investigation.

“I understand that they remain hopeful of further successful outcomes. On the views that have been expressed generally and, to some extent, this evening on the insufficiency of police resources at the time of the initial investigation, I can say that I have received reassurances from the PSNI that resourcing was not a critical issue, although the type of investigation and the paucity of investigative opportunities were relevant.”