PSNI want information about car in Maguiresbridge shooting

Detectives want to trace the movements of a silver Mercedes saloon car the night before Fermanagh tragedy

POLICE investigating the murders of Vanessa Whyte and her two children in Co. Fermanagh on Wednesday, are looking for the public’s help in tracing the movements of a car.

The PSNI have issued a statement asking anyone who saw a silver Mercedes saloon car in the Clones Road area of Newtownbutler, or between Maguiresbridge and Newtownbutler, on Tuesday evening, July 22 to contact police.

Vanessa Whyte (45) and her son, James Rutledge (14) and, daughter, Sara Rutledge (13), were killed in a shooting incident at their home on Drumeer Road, Maguiresbridge on the morning of Wednesday, July 23.

A fourth person, a man in his 40s, was also seriously injured in the shooting and remains in hospital. Police say they are not looking for anyone outside of the family circle in connection with the fatal shooting.

In a statement, Detective Chief Inspector Neil McGuinness said detectives from the PSNI's Major Investigation Team "are working tirelessly to determine the exact circumstances of this tragedy".

DCI McGuinness appealed generally for anyone with information to come forward but "more specifically," he said, at this stage, officers ask for information on the movements of the Mercedes on the date in question.

Anyone who was travelling in the area between Newtownbutler and Maguiresbridge the evening before the murders and who may have captured dash-cam footage which could assist detectives is asked to “please get in touch”.

You can do so by calling the PSNI’s 101 crime reporting phoneline, online at www.psni.police.uk/makeareport or alternatively, information can be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers.