Hemel Hempstead MP commemorates anniversary of Captain Robert Nairac

The MP for Hemel Hempstead, Sir Mike Penning, has issued a statement to commemorate the anniversary of the death of his former army captain, Captain Robert Nairac GC who died 43 years ago and whose body has never been found.

On the evening of Saturday, May 14, 1977 Captain Robert Nairac was undercover drinking and singing Republican folk songs in the Three Steps Inn in Dromintee, south Armagh. He was posing as a Catholic from the Ardoyne area of north Belfast.

As he left the bar at the end of the night, he was attacked in the car park and abducted. It is believed he was tortured before being brutally murdered by the IRA. The IRA later put out a statement saying he had been shot. Despite wide-ranging searches at the time, his body has never been found. He was 28.

Captain Nairac was Sir Mike’s captain in the Guards but was serving as a liaison officer for military intelligence when he was murdered.

Sir Mike said: "Every year, I make a short statement to the House of Commons, by way of a debate intervention or Point of Order to remember my former army captain, Captain Robert Nairac GC. Sadly, this year I cannot do that.

"We owe an enormous debt to our soldiers who served in Northern Ireland during the troubles and particularly to those who gave their lives for the peace in Northern Ireland.

"To this day nobody has come forward to tell us what happened to Captain Robert Nairac. Those who were involved in his abduction, torture and murder know where his body lies.

"For Captain Robert Nairac’s family, there cannot be any true peace until they know the truth and can lay him to rest and I will continue to highlight this injustice in whatever way I can.

"To me, he was an incredibly brave young man. He was posthumously awarded the George Cross in 1979. It is time he was able to rest in peace.

"I believe there should be a permanent memorial to him in London."

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