Police seek to speak to suspects for Cairns murder

The officer in charge of the investigation has said that Jonathon’s parents “deserve an answer and deserve justice for their 18-year-old son.”

A police spokesperson said: “Detectives from Serious Crime Branch who have re-opened the investigation into the murder of Jonathan Cairns in Ballykelly almost 13 years ago are making a specific appeal for information.

“They want to speak to two men who were seen in the area where Jonathan was assaulted on the Loughermore Road in the early hours of Sunday 25 April 1999.”

The officer in charge of the renewed investigation, Detective Chief Inspector John McVea, said: “These two men have never come forward which leads me to believe they were involved in Jonathan’s murder. They were in their early 20s, about five ft 10 inches tall and one of them might have had auburn coloured hair.

“I would ask them, even after 13 years, to contact detectives at North Queen Street in Belfast on 028 9056 1812 or use the independent charity Crimestoppers and provide information anonymously on 0800 555 111.

“Jonathan died a violent death as a result of a vicious beating which went far beyond a drunken assault. I believe his killer or killers were local to Ballykelly and they might have known Jonathan. His parents still don’t know why he was attacked on his way home after a night out.

“They deserve an answer and they deserve justice for their 18-year-old son. Anyone who can help achieve this should contact police.”