Memorial tributes important for daughter of murdered NI prison officer

Kay Burns, whose father was shot dead outside the family home at Knocknagoney on December 30, 1980, said she gets a degree of comfort from the annual memorial service.

William Burns, 45, was murdered by the Loyalist Prisoners’ Action Force (LPAF) during a campaign aimed at improving conditions for loyalist prison inmates.

The LPAF was widely viewed as a cover name for the UVF at the time.

Ms Burns had moved to England two years beforehand but was home for Christmas when her dad was murdered.

“I go to the memorial services at Hydebank which is a big thing for me, especially as it’s so close to my dad’s birthday on November 11,” she said.

“It’s a sad day but I’m glad they still do it. It was quite tough missing it this year because of the pandemic.”

The pain of the loss has diminished little over the years, and is increased around significant anniversaries, but the memories remain precious, Ms Burns said.

“I remember dad had been due to go to work on the Monday but we decided to stay an extra day because he had taken an extra day’s holiday and we had a lovely day together.”

Her father was shot dead as he left home to begin a shift at HMP Belfast early the following morning.

“He was getting into the car right outside our front door when they shot him.

“There weren’t a lot of jobs around so a lot of people went into that type of security-related work. I’m not sure if he felt he had to do something like that, but he was always very proud of his job.”

Although soft-spoken and philosophical about the prospect of seeing anyone convicted of the murder 40 years on, Ms Burns would show her dad’s killers no mercy.

“I would quite easily watch them hang,” she said.

A short time after his 7am murder, another prison officer was shot and wounded at Castlereagh Street.

Mr Burns has served as Worshipful Master of a Ballymacarrett district Orange lodge in east Belfast.

At the annual NI Prison Service memorial service at Hydebank in November, Justice Minister Naomi Long paid tribute to the 32 warders who have been killed as a result of their service.

She said: “It is a time to reflect on the contribution they made, and also a time to remember their families.

“It is important we remember them all. They carry their great suffering, pain and loss with dignity.”

READ: Annual commemoration to remember sacrifice of NI Prison Service personnel

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