The family of Jean Smyth-Campbell have made a fresh plea for information on the 48th anniversary of her death – and the first since Kenova took on the investigation.
Twenty-four year old Jean was shot dead while sitting in a car on the Glen Road in west Belfast on 8 June, 1972.
The investigation was taken on last year by Kenova lead former Chief Constable Jon Boutcher following a Court of Appeal ruling for an independent review of her death.
Today, her youngest sister, Margaret McQuillan, who was 12 at the time Ms Smyth-Campbell was killed, called for people to come forward with information.
“We want the truth and we want justice. Jean deserves that. She went out for a drink on that night and didn’t come home. She came home in a box,” she said.
“The whole family has been traumatised and we still are, we cannot rest while we have so many unanswered questions. For years my Mammy used to stand at the window, waiting for Jean to come home. She and my dad both went to the grave not knowing the truth.
“It feels as though we have been living a lie for more than 40 years and have fought hard to get the investigation independently reviewed, so we can establish the truth of what happened.
“We need people to come forward and tell the team what they know. Back then it was not uncommon for people to come out after a shooting and as far as I’m aware there was a lot of people who went to the car when Jean was shot.
"It may be that you’ve never come forward or spoken to the police about what you saw on that night, but please help us find out what happened on the night she was taken away from us."
Former Chief Constable Jon Boutcher, who leads Kenova, visited the scene of the killing on the Glen Road again last week.
He said: “There were so many tragic killings during the Troubles, but this case stands out. Jean Smyth-Campbell, a young mother, was travelling home in a car after a night out with friends when she was fatally shot.
"Her family were left utterly traumatised by what happened and have so many unanswered questions. Whoever did this left a little girl without her mum, it is beyond senseless. It is not too late to give this remarkable family the truth of what happened that night.
“They, like so many, have been left behind to pick up the pieces, have spent many years campaigning for justice. We will do everything we can to get them the truth.
“However, we need people’s help. I have no doubt that there will be people in the community, and wider, who know exactly what happened on that night on 8 June 1972, and who might be responsible.
"We're particularly keen to trace a red-haired woman who was described by witnesses as helping put Jean into a taxi following the shooting before running off.
"A huge amount of time has passed, but for Jean’s family it will always feel like this happened yesterday. Please, help this incredible family find out the truth and come forward. Tell us what you know. Everything you tell us with be treated with the utmost sensitivity, but help us get the answers that Jean’s family so desperately deserve.”
Anyone with any information should call 01234 858298 or email kenova@met.police.uk.