The parents of a 15-year-old murdered schoolboy have appealed to a north Belfast loyalist community to co-operate with the PSNI to expose their son's murderers.
On the second anniversary yesterday of the murder of Thomas Devlin, from Somerton Road in Belfast, his parents Jim Devlin and Penny Holloway urged anyone with information about the killing to come forward.
Mr Devlin also criticised the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern for promising €4,000 to a community group in Mount Vernon, the north Belfast area where Thomas's killers are believed to be from. Mount Vernon is the area linked to the UVF "serial" killer Mark Haddock and the recent Police Ombudsman's report claiming RUC Special Branch collusion with the UVF in the area.
At a special press conference yesterday the PSNI launched a new poster campaign seeking public assistance in apprehending the killers. One of the posters shows Thomas Devlin's parents holding a picture of their son, with the message, "If we knew who had murdered your child we'd call".
Police have a number of key suspects for the murder. Thomas Devlin was stabbed to death in what was described as a "frenzied attack" on Somerton Road as he was returning home to his house with friends, after they had bought sweets and soft drinks in a nearby petrol service station.
Two men were involved in the attack, one of whom was walking a dog at the time. Twelve people have been arrested and questioned, 77 searches carried out and more than 1,000 statements taken by police in the past two years. However, lack of concrete evidence has thwarted the investigation.
Det Chief Insp Nick McCaw said police had particular suspects in the Mount Vernon and adjacent Shore Road area, but they needed community assistance to bring charges.
"We have heard lots of stories about who killed Thomas, but stories don't convict suspects. What I need is information which I can turn into evidence to bring before a court," he added.
"I would ask those people who have that information to examine their conscience, to do the right things and bring the child killers to justice," said Det Insp McCaw. He added that police had opened up new lines of inquiry and new forensic evidence, including dog hairs, was being examined.
Ms Holloway urged people with information to come forward. "These men returned to their homes in Mount Vernon and were met by people who assisted in the cleaning and disposal of their clothes," she said.
"Those closest to the killers are giving them alibis in the full knowledge of the savage and unprovoked murder that these men carried out on a 15-year-old schoolboy - there are families protecting them.
"There are people in the Shore Road who have got information which would lead to their prosecution and conviction for Thomas' murder. We have been waiting for two years for the people of their community to stand up against these vicious child-killers who continue to live amongst them," said Ms Holloway.
Mr Devlin has also written to the Taoiseach Mr Ahern complaining about a decision to promise €4,000 to assist community development in Mount Vernon. He asked for a meeting with Mr Ahern.