As far as I'm concerned the theory involving the so-called Real IRA (RIRA) is most compelling:
- I believe RIRA were paid to murder Jill over her relationship/engagement/forthcoming marriage/plans to start a family with Alan Farthing ie a jealous ex of AF's who had available funds and contacts with Irish republicans at the extreme end.
- RIRA are thought responsible for Omagh bomb, Aug '98, based on cell phone analysis. Police were unable to pick up any mobile tel communication around the time Jill was murdered as by this time RIRA had the forensic awareness and switched to pagers or walkie talkies.
- RIRA would have the ballistics capability to procure firearm/ammo and modify ammo to reduce velocity which in turn would reduce sound of firearm discharge and back spatter.
- As Jill was no longer living at Gowan Ave, visitng infrequently on random days/times in the main to pick up items stored there, this suggests the perps had Jill under covert electronic surveillance by way of car tracking and/or bugs installed at AF's home and/or mobiles all of which would be routine to RIRA.
- Witness descriptions of perp vary but all describe a well dressed man who many assume to be an estate agent. A perfect rue imo where 2 look outs were deployed either end of Gowan Ave whilst the assassin murdered Jill. This accounts for the difference descriptions.
- The e-fit did not produce any tangible results. Recognition of RIRA members on mainland would be minimal.
- Police intelligence was non-existent which can be explained by RIRA being responsible.
- A Wayne Aird confessed to being a member of the IRA and part of a 4 man squad who murdered Jill. His solicitor said in his opinion Aird's confession was credible.
- At the time of Aird's confession he was serving a life sentence for murdering Timothy Pincott a Big Issue seller who had amassed some 50k in savings from supposedly selling the Big Issue. A spokesperson for BI thought it extraordinary. If it sounds too good to be true it probably is! Were the pair involved in laundering money from the proceeds of crime and/or aiding terrorists?
- Shortly after Jill was murdered a man with what appears to have been an east European accent phoned BBC offices in London and Belfast claiming responsibility. Was this someone from the Balkans who was working with RIRA making hoax calls to deflect blame?
- The month after Jill was murdered RIRA successfully smuggled a catchment of weapons from Croatia:
In 1999 the RIRA began preparations for a renewed campaign, and in May three members travelled to Split in Croatia to purchase arms, which were smuggled back to Ireland.Where did the funds come from? Murder money?
- Afaik all Irish paramilitiary groups have publicly stated violence will only be used against what it considers legitimate targets: army personnel, police officers, politicians etc. On this basis it is hard to see how Jill could be considered a legitimate target other than she was the face of the BBC and supported police officers on Crimewatch. If the murder was a paid 'hit' RIRA no doubt justified the tenuous link to BBC and police by funds generated to purchase arms for the 'cause'.
- The date of Jill's murder coincides with a significant date in the Irish paramilitary calendar: the 1916 Easter Rising. Symbolic attacks are often carried out during the anniversary period eg bombing of Hammersmith bridge in 1996.
It also occurred on the anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1996_Hammersmith_Bridge_bombing