'˜IRA inquest families must tell us who loved ones killed'

Families seeking information about the killing of IRA men by the SAS at Loughgall should first tell all they know about who the 'serial killers' murdered during their careers with the terror group, victims' campaigners have said.
By The Newsroom
Published 29th Jan 2016, 11:22 BST
Updated 29th Jan 2016, 11:30 BST
Aerial view of rhe bullet riddled Hiace van (blue at bottom) in which eight IRA men were shot dead by the SAS outside Loughgall RUC station in 1988Aerial view of rhe bullet riddled Hiace van (blue at bottom) in which eight IRA men were shot dead by the SAS outside Loughgall RUC station in 1988
Aerial view of rhe bullet riddled Hiace van (blue at bottom) in which eight IRA men were shot dead by the SAS outside Loughgall RUC station in 1988

Relatives of the gunmen should also accept, it is claimed, that their loved ones’ own IRA rule book warned them to accept that they could be killed while carrying out deadly terror attacks.

Eight IRA men were killed by the SAS as they opened fire on Loughgall RUC station in 1987 – part of a long string of devastating attacks on police stations which claimed the lives of many members of the security forces.

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This week a lawyer acting for the IRA families, Peter Corrigan of KRW Law, told an inquest: “The state authorities had prior knowledge and did not effect arrests when they [the IRA] entered Loughgall – they acted disproportionately and excessively.”

But victims’ campaigner Willie Frazer hit back.

“The Loughgall families talk about truth and justice,” he said.

“Are they prepared to come forward and tell us the truth about individuals murdered by their loved ones?

“Justice is not a one-way street, and the men of the UDR, RUC and British Army are entitled to it as much as anyone else.”

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Kenny Donaldson, spokesman for Innocent Victims United, pointed to the IRA green book, which instructs volunteers that “all people wishing to join the [Irish Republican] Army must fully realise that when life is being taken, that very well could mean their own. If you go out to shoot soldiers or police you must fully realise that they too can shoot you”.

In colloquial terms this meant, “live by the sword, die by the sword”, he said.

“The East Tyrone IRA Brigade members who were killed at Loughgall were serial killers, they were not law-abiding members of the community,” he added.

Speaking for the families, solicitor Darragh Mackin declined to address any issues surrounding the many victims of the terror group.

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“The state are prohibited from the unlawful taking of life,” he said.

“In the circumstances that life is unlawfully taken, the state must investigate in a way that is compliant with their obligations under domestic and international law.

“The inquest into Loughgall must now investigate that which has never been investigated, and in a way that is compliant with the standards required – such is a right of all citizens of the various member states, enshrined under the very basic principles of human rights and international law.”

Related topics:IRALoughgall