Belfast bank raid shooting case reopened

DETECTIVES in Northern Ireland have launched a fresh investigation into the murder of a police officer shot in a bank raid nearly 40 years ago.

Inspector Bill Elliott was driving on his own when he heard news that a robbery was under way at the Ulster Bank in the Rathcoole area of Belfast in September 1974.

The 48-year-old, who was married with a son, raced to the scene and died after a shoot-out with republicans from the Official IRA who detectives said were armed with submachine guns and a pistol. The Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Serious Crime Branch has now reopened the case.