East Belfast UDA ‘Romper Room’ murder victim Patrick Benstead

       AS MURDERS went, Patrick Benstead’s was up there with the most brutal, barbaric and sadistic of the Troubles.

Now 42 years, after he was mutilated and murder, ‘Waking The Dead’ detectives have today arrested three of his murder.

Police said the arrests are part of an investigation into the murder of 32-year-old Patrick Benstead.

His body was found in Crossley Street on 2 December, 1972, after he had been tortured and shot.

Parts of his fingers had been cut. His genitals had been cut off and stuffed in his mouth. His body was also branded with a hot object by his UDA ‘Romper Room’ killers.

Police said the men aged 61, 67, and 73 were arrested in England, east Belfast and Newtownards.

Mr Benstead was from the Short Strand area of east Belfast.

He was last seen leaving a bar on the Falls Road in west Belfast on the evening of 1 December 1972.