An investigation into the death of Michael Kay on 3 April 1985
If you witnessed or have any information about this case, please contact our Information Recovery team:
If you would prefer to contact us by telephone, please call 02890 362093.
The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery is investigating the death of Michael Kay.
Michael was a 38-year-old married father of one son. He was an RUC Reserve Constable and was killed, while on duty, by a car bomb detonated at Newry Courthouse at 9.39am on Wednesday 3 April 1985.
Michael died at the scene of the attack. A civilian member of court staff was also critically injured and later died in hospital.
A number of police officers sustained significant injuries and several civilians were also injured.
The subsequent police investigation established that the vehicle used in the bombing was a beige Toyota Corolla, registration number SZY 367, which had been stolen from outside the Star and Crescent Club in Drogheda, Republic of Ireland, on 22 November 1984. It had been fitted with false registration plates displaying FIB 9922.
On the night before the attack, a house in Stream Street, Newry, was taken over by a number of masked men who claimed to be members of the Provisional Irish Republican Army. A rear window of the property had a direct line of sight towards Newry Courthouse at Trevor Hill. The three occupants of the house were held hostage until shortly after 10am on the morning of 3 April 1985.
If you have any information concerning the attack, please come forward to the Commission. What you know could help uncover the truth for Michael’s family.
Do you remember?
- Were you in the Trevor Hill area of Newry and saw the suspect vehicle or any person acting suspiciously?
- Did you see anything suspicious in the Stream Street area of Newry around 6pm when the occupants of the house were held hostage, or the following morning?