Kingsmills inquest delay '˜a bitter pill to swallow'

Families of those killed in the Kingsmills massacre have found it 'a bitter pill' that the inquest into the 10 killings has been adjourned for two weeks while police investigate a new lead.
By The Newsroom
Published 9th Jun 2016, 08:15 BST
Updated 13th Jun 2016, 12:30 BST
Willie Frazer and Colin Worton (left), whose brother was killed, attend the inquest of the Kingsmill massacre at LagansideWillie Frazer and Colin Worton (left), whose brother was killed, attend the inquest of the Kingsmill massacre at Laganside
Willie Frazer and Colin Worton (left), whose brother was killed, attend the inquest of the Kingsmill massacre at Laganside

Ten Protestant civilians were gunned down by the IRA as they travelled home from work in a minibus near Kingsmills in south Armagh in 1976 amid spiralling sectarian violence.

The legacy inquest into the atrocity was only in its second week of hearings last week when the PSNI disclosed that a relatively junior fingerprint expert, prompted by media coverage of the hearings, checked a palm print from the getaway vehicle and found a match.

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At the inquest hearing yesterday coroner Brian Sherrard said that while he understood the families’ confidence in the police investigation had been “shaken”, he felt it would be better to adjourn hearings for two weeks while the police investigate the lead.

Colin Worton, whose brother Kenneth was one of those murdered, said: “It has to be disappointing because these [upcoming witnesses] were the ones that we really wanted to hear from – the PSNI, Historical Enquiries Team and Garda. But there is very little we can do about it.

“The families have to accept it because it is out of our control. The coroner sees the bigger picture. It is a bitter pill for the families to swallow at this late stage.

“We had been getting more information about what really happened at this inquest than we have heard for 40 years.”

Police are unable to give further information at this stage, he said.

Related topics:ArmaghProtestantIRAPSNI