A “psychopath” former paratrooper was the main culprit in the infamous killings of three off-duty Scots soldiers almost 50 years ago, according to research.
The BBC claims to have unearthed evidence proving a Parachute Regiment soldier turned IRA terrorist was central to the slayings.
John McCaig, 17, his brother, Joseph, 18, and Dougald McCaughey, 23, were shot dead in Belfast in March 1971.
The three Royal Highland Fusiliers had been in a city centre pub when they were lured to their deaths by the IRA.
The probe reveals Paddy O’Kane, who had served in the regiment, shared a drink with the three Scots before taking them away to their deaths.
The findings of the probe were aired last night by BBC Northern Ireland, in documentary The Killings of the Three Scottish Soldiers.
Members of O’Kane’s family confirmed that he said he was involved in the killings. And former IRA intelligence chief Kieran Conway said O’Kane spoke openly about his role.
He said: “I believe any man that could execute three young soldiers in that manner must have been a psychopath.”
Multiple sources confirmed to the BBC that O’Kane was a lead suspect for the Kingsmills massacre of January 1976, when 10 Protestant workmen were shot dead by the IRA.
He died in 2009 in Shannon, County Clare, where he had lived since 1976.
