Police have made a new plea for information following the discovery of a 10-year-old boy’s body, which was found mutilated and burned. The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) is seeking details about the brutal murder of Brian McDermott, whose remains were located in a sack near the River Lagan close to the Belfast Boat Club in September 1973, nearly a week after he went missing. Despite more than five decades passing since the tragic killing, no one has been prosecuted, leaving the case unresolved.
Brian, a resident of east Belfast, was last spotted playing alone in Ormeau Park in Belfast between 1 and 3pm on September 2, 1973. Concern arose when he did not return home for dinner that Sunday. His body was ultimately recovered from the River Lagan near the Belfast Boat Club.
Following Brian’s disappearance, his brother William, then 16 years old, was initially considered a suspect and interrogated in 1976 and 2004. While William confessed to the murder during the first questioning, he later retracted his statement, alleging coercion. To distance himself from the suspicions, he legally changed his name.
Detectives from the PSNI’s Legacy Investigation Branch are currently revisiting the case, urging the public’s cooperation over 52 years later. A police representative expressed empathy for Brian’s family, acknowledging their enduring grief. They highlighted the case’s ongoing status and encouraged anyone with information, no matter how insignificant, to come forward, potentially unveiling new leads or insights.
Authorities emphasized the possibility of individuals who withheld details previously now being willing to assist in the investigation. Interested parties are urged to contact the Legacy Investigation Branch with any pertinent information. Detectives can be reached at 101 or via email at LIBEnquiries@psni.police.uk, quoting reference RM05003065.