Widow of RUC officer, Orangeman, flute bandsman and BB leader speaks of pain 30 years after his murder

A woman who was widowed exactly 30 years ago yesterday has spoken out on the anniversary of the atrocity which claimed her husband, to voice bafflement at Sinn Fein’s ongoing support within the Catholic community.
Pacemaker Belfast - Archive
Joshua Cyril Willis (33) David Sterritt (34) and William James Hanson. The three RUC men and Sister Catherine Dunne(37) who were killed by an explosion.Pacemaker Belfast - Archive
Joshua Cyril Willis (33) David Sterritt (34) and William James Hanson. The three RUC men and Sister Catherine Dunne(37) who were killed by an explosion.
Pacemaker Belfast - Archive Joshua Cyril Willis (33) David Sterritt (34) and William James Hanson. The three RUC men and Sister Catherine Dunne(37) who were killed by an explosion.

Constable Joshua Willis (known by his middle name of Cyril), was 35-year-old full-time RUC reservist who was among four people blown up in a huge explosion on a road outside Armagh city in 1990.

Two other RUC men (David Sterritt and William Hanson) were also killed.

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The explosion elicited a statement of regret from the IRA, because the triggermen had detonated the bomb at the same moment a car carrying Dublin nun Catherine Dunne passed by, also killing her.

The massive bomb crater on the Killylea Road near Armagh were three RUC men and a nun were killed by a land mine explosion, 
24-7-90The massive bomb crater on the Killylea Road near Armagh were three RUC men and a nun were killed by a land mine explosion, 
24-7-90
The massive bomb crater on the Killylea Road near Armagh were three RUC men and a nun were killed by a land mine explosion, 24-7-90

Today Sister Catherine has her own Wikipedia page. None of the RUC men have one.

Two people were convicted in relation to the crime, but freed early under the Belfast Agreement of 1998.

Cyril’s wife Fiona Willis was left to take care of two children, David (3) and Andrew (1). She never remarried.

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Fiona said she and Cyril (who was from the Caledon area of south Tyrone) were both members of the same Church of Ireland parish, and they got together at a dance when she was aged 19. She said “the rest is history” – they were married two years later in 1981.

She described him as a gentleman and “very much a community policeman”, who was in the Orange Order, played in a local flute band, and sang in his church choir – as well as being a leader in the Boys’ Brigade.

On the day of his death, she learned of the killing by overhearing a passing police officer on the street, who said there had “been an incident and I think it’s the Caledon boys”, before jumping in a police car and racing off.

Policemen then turned up at her work, and “as soon as I saw them, I knew”, said Fiona.

“I just asked them: Is he dead? And they said: Yes.

“And that was it. That was your life changed forever.”

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There was the initial commotion of the funeral and visits from well-wishers, “then a week or two later reality really hits home, that you are never going to see him again”.

When she sees Sinn Fein calling for accountability for alleged state wrongdoing these days, she said: “The one word I think of is: Hypocrites. They are such hypocrites.

“It’s just as if there’s one set of rules for them and one set for us, and that we don’t matter.”

She added: “I often think about the Catholic community. And a lot of them, they’re so holy when they’re going to the altar, and yet they back these people that think it’s ok to go out and hide somewhere and kill people.

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“Sinn Fein do get a lot of support. I just don’t understand how.”

Her points were put to Sinn Fein but it did not respond.

Meanwhile prominent Catholic spokesman Father Eddie McGee said: “It’s consistently been a teaching of Christianity, and indeed of the Catholic tradition, that life is very precious and to be protected and nurtured at all times.

“And any action which causes damage or hurt, or indeed actions which take away life, are inconsistent with the Christian message.”

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Alistair Bushe