RUC SPG officer John Weir , in his affidavit made to Irish Supreme Court Justice Henry Barron , named those involved in the Reavey shootings as Robert McConnell ( a soldier of the British Army 's Ulster Defence Regiment ) , Laurence McClure ( an RUC SPG officer ) , James Mitchell , and another man . In a meeting with Eugene Reavey , the RUC officer heading the investigation also named McConnell , McClure and Mitchell as suspects . Anthony Reavey 's description of the man carrying the submachine gun closely fits that of McConnell , despite the gunman having worn a black woollen balaclava . McConnell was implicated in the 1974 Dublin car bombings and many sectarian attacks
1974 Dublin car bombings
Dublin and Monaghan bombings
Reavey and O'Dowd killings