Man arrested in murder inquiry into historic Benburb Army shooting

Detectives investigating the historic murder of Benburb man John Pat Cunningham have arrested a 73-year-old man in England.
John Pat Cunningham was shot dead by soldiers in June 1974John Pat Cunningham was shot dead by soldiers in June 1974
John Pat Cunningham was shot dead by soldiers in June 1974

Mr Cunningham was shot and killed by members of an Army patrol as he ran away from them near his home on June 15 1974.

Aged 27 at the time of his death, it is understood Mr Cunningham had a mental age of just ten and was terrified of people in uniform.

He was shot three times.

The scene in Carrickaness Road, Benburb on June 15 1974 following the shooting of John Pat CunninghamThe scene in Carrickaness Road, Benburb on June 15 1974 following the shooting of John Pat Cunningham
The scene in Carrickaness Road, Benburb on June 15 1974 following the shooting of John Pat Cunningham
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The case was re-opened as a murder enquiry by the PSNI’s Legacy Investigation Branch in March - 41 years after Mr Cunningham’s death - but his family said at the time they had no confidence in a PSNI investigation.

The 73-year-old suspect is being brought to Northern Ireland for questioning at the Serious Crime Suite in Antrim police station.

Detectives from the PSNI’s Legacy Investigations Branch launched the murder investigation following an assessment of the available evidence.