An astonishing list of failures around the investigation into the loyalist assassination of a Belfast taxi driver have emerged as the victim’s family questioned whether they can be explained by “mere incompetence”.
John O’Hara, a 41-year-old father of five, on his first night working as a taxi driver, was shot dead in April 1991 after being lured to his death in south Belfast.
His family’s long held view those involved in the murder were protected from prosecution was reinforced by the findings of a Police Ombudsman report into the investigation, their solicitor said.
Police Ombudsman Marie Anderson said the complaints of the family were “legitimate and justified”, that the police enquiry was “not capable of bringing those responsible to justice” and that the then RUC failed to “thoroughly and effectively investigate the murder”.
The ombudsman found investigators:
– Failed to test the alibis of three arrested suspects
– Failed to arrest five others identified through intelligence and other information as being involved
– Failed to seize clothing for forensic examination from any of the suspects
– Failed to seize and carry out a forensic examination of a suspect vehicle, which a witness even identified as having the word ‘Chevette’ on its doors.
– Failed to even interview leading loyalist Winkie Rea – identified as a suspect and who later confessed to involvement in the murder – because he was part of the ‘wrong group’
– Failed to take hair samples from suspects, including those arrested, and compare to strands taken from a balaclava found near the scene
– Failed to test the balaclava for gunshot discharge residue
– Failed to place images before, or set up an identification line up for, a witness who watched as the murder gang removed their balaclavas
– Failed to even begin enquiries into who made the telephone call luring Mr O’Hara’s to his death, or where it came from
In addition, the weapons used in the gun attack, part of a haul imported from South Africa in 1987, have disappeared while the ombudsman investigation was impeded by the loss of records, including interviews conducted with two arrested suspects.
Two former senior officers refused to assist the investigation, though the ombudsman received co-operation from others.
The ombudsman investigation also found police received intelligence in March 1991 the taxi firm was on a hitlist of targets compiled by the Shankill UFF.
It could not be established whether management or employees were made aware of this threat. Mr O’Hara had no known political or paramilitary affiliations.
Assistant Chief Constable Anthony McNally, of the PSNI’s justice branch, said the thoughts of the service “are with the family of John O’Hara today”.
“John was an innocent man murdered in a sickening sectarian attack,” ACC McNally said.
“I note the failings the Police Ombudsman has identified in the original investigation and the Police Service of Northern Ireland will now take time to carefully consider the Police Ombudsman’s report in full.”
Solicitor Pádraig Ó Muirigh, on behalf of the family, said: “The breadth and nature of these failings cannot be explained by mere incompetence.
“The O’Hara family have a long-held view that those involved in the murder were protected from prosecution by the RUC. That view has been reinforced by these findings.”
On April 17, 1991, Mr O’Hara, a heating engineer by trade was on his first shift working for Regal Taxis based in the Short Strand area of east Belfast.
When he arrived to pick up a fare on Dunluce Avenue, a number of gunmen emerged from an alleyway and fired shots through the driver’s side window. The Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) claimed responsibility the following day.
The ombudsman report, which found no evidence police had information that could have prevented the murder, said eight suspects were quickly identified as potentially involved in the assassination. Only three were ever arrested.
There was no evidence any of the alibis by the three arrested were ever tested. One was interviewed 21 times over the course of three days, but Mr O’Hara’s murder was mentioned twice, briefly.
The late loyalist Winkie Rea was identified as being involved in the murder. However, police dismissed this lead as he linked to the “wrong group”, the Red Hand Commando.
Rea, who later confessed on the Boston Tapes to involvement, was in 2016 charged in connection with the murder. After years of the case dragging through the justice system, Rea died in December 2023.
Following the murder, a witness reported seeing two men running across a footbridge and taking off their masks before jumping into a red Vauxhall Chevette car on Donegall Avenue. The car even had the word Chevette on its doors.
Police identified a man who lived near the scene of the murder and drove a red Chevette with similar distinctive markings. He was interviewed as a witness, gave an explanation to police as to his whereabouts but police were unable to fully corroborate his account.
The car was never forensically examined while the witness was never asked to identify the men she saw taking off the masks, either via photographs or in a line up.
Twelve hairs were retrieved from a balaclava discovered about a mile from the scene three days after the murder. No hair samples were taken from suspects.
The two guns used in Mr O’Hara’s murder were a 9mm Browning pistol recovered in Moira in January 1992, following another murder, and a .32 calibre Smith & Wesson revolver, recovered in Belfast in 1995. Both weapons have disappeared.
“I am of the view that weapons used ought to have been retained by police for evidential purposes in respect of unsolved murders, including Mr O’Hara’s. I am critical of this systemic practice by police and have referred to this issue in other reports,” said Mrs Anderson.
The investigation found no ‘collusion’, which was raised by the family as they alleged police failed to keep them updated on the progress of the murder investigation.