A new national appeal for information about the brutal murder of a County Derry farmer four years ago will be made on TV next week.

By Ciaran O’Neill

editor@derrypost.com

The County Derry Post has learned that an appeal for information about the murder of Patrick Devine will be made on the BBC’s Crimewatch programme next Monday.

Mr Devine was found dead with gunshot wounds in his remote farmhouse at Carraigbayne near Claudy on September 11, 2004.

Despite an extensive police investigation and a £10,000 reward being put up by the 51 year-old’s family, no one has ever been charged in connection with his murder.

The killer fired several shots through the kitchen window of Mr Devine’s home, where the batchelor lived alone.

The PSNI have since revealed that they believe earlier attacks on Mr Devine and his brother Aiden may hold the key to a motive for the murder.

Detective Superintendent Andy Hunter, who is in charge of the investigation, said an assault on Patrick Devine at Dungiven market in 2001 and an attack on his brother in 2004 are being treated as links to the murder.

Mr Hunter added that a Scottish connection to the murder was also being examined.