Murdered RUC constable John Proctor
A south Derry Provisional IRA hitman who shot dead a policeman moments after he welcomed his newborn son into the world will walk free from jail next week.
Seamus Keanry, (59), of Gorteade Road, Maghera, was jailed for 20 years in December 2013 for the murder of John Proctor.
Mr Proctor, a 25-year-old RUC constable, was shot dead in the grounds of Magherafelt hospital after visiting his newborn son in September 1981.
Kearney was arrested and charged in connection with the murder after a review by the Historical Enquiries Team (HET).
DNA evidence linked Kearney directly to the scene of the shooting.
Upon conviction, Crown Court Judge David McFarland described Mr Proctor’s murder as “one of the most appalling” committed during the Troubles.
“That a man can be targeted when he is attending a hospital to visit his wife and newly born son continues to appall all right-minded members of society,” the judge added.
Under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement, Kearney only has to serve two years of his 20 year sentence.
He has been out of jail on pre-release programmes since March this year much to the distress of Mr Proctor’s widow.
The Department of Justice had failed to tell Kearney was out and one day while out driving her car she came upon him on a road which had left her shocked and distressed that he was back on the streets without her knowledge.
The DoJ last week apologised in court for not informing the policeman’s widow that Kearney was out walking the streets on a pre-release scheme.
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