THE SERIOUS CRIME Branch of the PSNI has welcomed the conviction today of 59-year-old Robert Rodgers for the sectarian murder of Eileen Doherty in Belfast in 1973.
Eileen, 19, was shot by gunmen who hijacked a taxi she was taking home from the Ormeau Road to Andersonstown in September 1973.
The officer in charge of the renewed investigation, Detective Chief Inspector John McVea from Serious Crime Branch, said:
Everyone who worked on the case is pleased that a small degree of closure has been provided to Eileen’s sisters and brother by today’s conviction. It shows that, where there are investigative opportunities, police will work to bring offenders before the courts no matter how long ago a crime was committed.
On the day of her attack, Doherty had been visiting a friend in the city and when going home, she agreed to share a taxi with two men, one of them was Rodgers.
The men, who were in their 20s and appeared to be drunk, sat in the back seat while Doherty sat in the front.
Shortly after the journey began, the men produced a gun and ordered both Doherty and the driver into the back. They managed to escape, but were followed by the men in the car.
The taxi driver escaped but Doherty was caught and shot three times in the head and body by one of the men. Meanwhile, the taxi driver raised the alarm.
The teenager was rushed to hospital but died the following day.
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