Retired British soldier arrested over 1974 shooting of man with learning difficulties running across a field
A retired British soldier has been arrested by detectives investigating the shooting of a man with learning difficulties in Northern Ireland in 1974.
John Pat Cunningham, 27, was shot by the Army in a field in Benburb, Co Armagh.
The 73-year-old suspect was detained in England. He is being taken to Northern Ireland for questioning at the police’s Serious Crime Suite in Antrim.
The case was re-opened by the Police Service of Northern Ireland and a murder investigation started following a re-examination of the available evidence.
Mr Cunningham had a fear of men in uniform and was running away from an Army patrol when he was shot.
The Government apologised for his death in 2013.
