James Elliott family granted access to Special Criminal Court file

This report is a localnews.ie summary based on public court reporting and records; sources are listed below.

The family of James Elliott were granted access to a Special Criminal Court file linked to his murder, following an application granted by the President of the High Court; the ruling was reported on 15 November 2022.

Elliott, a part-time corporal in the Ulster Defence Regiment, was kidnapped near Newry on 17 April 1972 while working as a truck driver between Kingscourt and Warrenpoint. He was held for 30 hours and murdered; his body was left near the border in County Armagh.

The file concerns a 1972 trial in which Brendan Finnegan and Patrick Lynch were convicted by the Special Criminal Court of conspiring to commit an explosion and possessing explosives. The report says the family believes the case is connected with Elliott’s death; it also says no one has been charged with his murder, according to the family.

The judge directed that the family’s lawyers receive access to the original file and a copy within seven days. The family said the material could help answer questions about their father’s death and the subsequent trial.