The kin of four people murdered by loyalists in 1992 in Co Tyrone are determined to continue their fight for justice, despite their appeal for a public hearing being rejected. Kevin McKearney, 32 years old, was murdered inside his family-owned butchery in Moy village in January 1992 by a UVF gunman. In the same assault, his 69-year-old uncle, Jack McKearney, was gravely injured and succumbed to his wounds in hospital after three months. The same year, the parents-in-law of Kevin McKearney, Charlie and Teresa Fox, aged 63 and 54 respectively, were brutally killed by the UVF in their Moy residence.
It was reported earlier this year that a coroner was obstructed from giving a comprehensive account of the events due to a legal challenge from the British government, arguing against it being publicly disclosed. Correspondingly, Judge Richard Greene KC expressed an initial opinion that the inquest into the quadruple murders could not progress due to the concealment of sensitive documents for reasons of national security.
On Thursday, it was stated by the families that Northern Secretary Hilary Benn had denied their appeal for a public inquiry. Rather, he advised that the investigation be handed over to the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR).
The McKearney family, however, has expressed their determination to persevere. They have categorically rejected an inquiry by the ICRIR, an organisation established by the preceding British government’s Legacy Act.
“We are unyielding as a family. We were denied our inquest by the coroner and he suggested a public inquiry. Sadly, the current Secretary of State is no different from his predecessors, but we will persist and take him to court,” said Bernie, the wife of Kevin McKearney.
Angela McKearney, Kevin’s sister, underscored their resolve to persist. She said, “We will not falter in our quest for justice and will now pursue an emergency judicial review against the Secretary of the State’s decision.”
Gavin Booth, a solicitor from Phoenix Law, stressed: “The families are firmly convinced that the ICRIR can’t fulfil the state’s duty to their family. The family has completely lost faith in this institution and no amount of cosmetic changes will alter this family’s perception and the perception of all affected families about the ICRIR. The Secretary of State must now dissolve the ICRIR.”
The kin of a man, slain by loyalists in 1998, have expressed their lack of trust in the newfound legacy body’s ability to probe accusations of collaboration in the incident. Fergal McCusker, a 29-year-old from Maghera, met his fatal end behind a youth club on the 18th of January, 1998. The Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF) proclaimed its role in the murder, albeit no individual has ever stood trial or been found guilty for his demise.
Pádraig Ó Muirigh, the solicitor acting for the McCuskers, revealed their profound disappointment following Mr Benn’s refusal to commission a public examination of the occurrence. In response, a spokesperson for the UK government stated that Mr Benn has communicated with the families of both incidents, apprising them of his verdict.
A multitude of elements were extensively assessed by the Secretary of State before reaching his decision, encompassing the families’ sentiments, the verdict of the coroner, governmental human rights commitments and pertinent matters of public interest, mentioned the spokesperson. The spokesperson also expressed the Secretary’s deep empathy for the families, urging them to arrange a meeting with Sir Declan Morgan to understand how the Independent Commission on Reconciliation and Information Recovery would conduct an enquiry into the circumstances behind the demise of their family members.