Police appeal on 20th anniversary of 'brutal' murder

Image source, PSNI

Image caption, Patrick Devine was murdered at his home in 2004

Police have issued an appeal for information on the 20th anniversary of the murder of a man in Claudy.

Patrick Devine, a 51-year-old sheep farmer and part-time nurse, was found shot dead in his home on the Mullintill Road in September 2004.

He was eating dinner at his home when he was shot at least nine times through a kitchen window, and then again at close range.

Police believe the murder was a paramilitary contract killing linked to alleged sheep rustling and land disputes.

Five arrests were made during the investigation, and despite reviews of the evidence in the case, no one has ever been charged.

'Allegiences may have changed'

Mr Devine was well known in the area, and police have said they believe some people "resented" his success as a sheep farmer.

Det Ch Insp Mark Gibson said: 鈥淚t is now 20 years since Patrick鈥檚 life was taken from him in a brutal and calculated manner, and his family鈥檚 wait for justice has gone on for far too long.

鈥淭he individuals who did this are dangerous and ruthless, and unfortunately have never been held accountable."

DCI Gibson went on to say he believed that "allegiances may have changed" in the 20 years since the killing.

In 2014, on the 10th anniversary, his brothers put up a 拢50,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of anyone involved in the killing.

At that time, his mother, Katie, said that although a decade had passed, it seemed as though "it was only yesterday".

On his 20th anniversary, the Crimestoppers charity offered a reward of up to 拢20,000 for information leading to a conviction.