IRA murder investigation of Tom Oliver moves to Australia

A global investigation into one of the most infamous IRA abductions, tortures and murders has moved to NSW, Queensland and Victoria.

Exclusive: It was one of the most infamous abductions, tortures and murders carried out during The Troubles in Northern Ireland. Now, British police have switched their focus to Australia with at least one man described as “key” to the execution of farmer Tom Oliver being sought here.

It can be revealed the man’s identity and file has been passed to the NSW Police Counter Terrorism unit as they attempt to find him, from various addresses along the east coast including Victoria, NSW and up to Queensland.

Police are refusing to detail his role but describe him as someone who was now key to unravelling a 30-year-old high profile murder.

Tom Oliver, the father of seven from the Cooley Peninsula in Louth, who was abducted, tortured and shot by the Provisional IRA in July 1991.

The man has been living in Australia for years, ironically among the Northern Irish and Irish Republic diaspora - many of whom had fled the conflict for a better life here.

It is understood more than one ex-pat here is now being sought for assistance to the murder investigation of farmer and father-of -seven Tom Oliver who was abducted, “extensively tortured” and murdered by the IRA in 1991 for being an alleged informer after apparently pointing police to a cache of weapons he found while digging a drainage ditch.

On Monday, British detectives also revealed the 2019 reopened Oliver investigation had now discovered new forensic material on clothes that Mr Oliver was wearing at the time. The evidence had been bagged waiting for advances in technology.

Forensic officers examine the scene at the Massereene army barracks in Antrim, Northern Ireland in 2009 after two British soldiers were shot dead and four people wounded in a drive-by ambush blamed on IRA dissidents.

Mr Oliver’s family said the DNA evidence and seeking of witnesses were a genuine breakthrough.

“After 30 years, there is now light at the end of a very dark tunnel. We today seek to call upon those with information to come forward,” the family said in a statement.

The breakthrough stems from the UK probe Operation Kenova looking into The Troubles period including how the British Government planted a spy codenamed “Stakeknife” inside the Provisional Irish Republican Army.

That rogue double agent, who has never been positively identified, oversaw the murders of alleged informers within the paramilitary army of which elements today still exist.

Former Chief Constable Jon Boutcher is leading an independent team Operation Kenova looking into The Troubles. Picture: Supplied

Kenova is looking across the infamous 30-years of Troubles conflict in Northern Ireland which technically concluded in 1998 with the Good Friday Agreement but not before the slaying of more than 3500 people, 1840 civilians including two innocent Australian tourists and the wounding of more than 50,000.

UK detectives declined to comment about the man in Australia they were wanting to speak with relating to Mr Oliver’s murder but only that he had “crucial information” about the killing.

Details emerged as Kenova lead Jon Boutcher made a fresh appeal for information on the 30th anniversary of Mr Oliver’s death and just days after the UK government tabled a proposal to bring in a statute of limitations that would effectively cease all prosecutions linked to The Troubles.

“We leave no stone unturned in our efforts to get to the truth for families,” Mr Boutcher said adding the probe now switching to Australia.

“We are gaining access to files and evidence which was not available to previous inquiries, nothing, and no-one, is off limits to Kenova.”

An IRA fatal car bomb explosion on Market Street during Omagh Carnival in Northern Ireland. More than 3500 people died in the 30 years of The Troubles conflict.

When asked further by News Corp about the Australia link, Mr Boutcher said: “Our inquiries are focused on the East coast and we are working closely with law enforcement to trace some people who we feel may have important information which will help us get answers Tom’s family so desperately need and deserve.”

He added: “This is a truly horrific case in which Tom, a father-of-seven, appears to have been effectively executed. Tom’s family have endured three decades of unthinkable torment of not knowing the truth of what happened and who was responsible. I want to end this pain by giving them the answers they so desperately need.”

Originally published as IRA murder investigation of Tom Oliver moves to Australia