New Troubles inquests ordered into five UVF murders

Relatives of the five men held photographs of them outside a court in Belfast after the announcement of the new inquests

New inquests are to be held into the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) murders of five Catholic men in Mid-Ulster more than 30 years ago.

The move was ordered by Attorney General Dame Brenda King, who took account of "deficiencies" in the original investigations and inquests.

Sean Anderson, Thomas Armstrong, Dwayne O'Donnell, Thomas Casey and Phelim McNally died in four separate attacks.

Their families suspect soldiers were involved in the killings.

In a letter to their solicitor, the attorney general's office stated there was new information not considered at the first inquests.

That included intelligence "as to whether state agents/bodies played a role in the deaths" and "wider evidence suggestive of collusion".

Gavin Booth, the solicitor acting for the men's families, said the cases were linked "through suspects, geography and ballistics".

Thomas Armstrong and Dwayne O'Donnell were killed in a gun attack at a bar in Cappagh

Under the government's Troubles legacy bill which is going through Parliament, inquests linked to the conflict must reach a conclusion by May of next year.

Those which have not reached that stage will be ended.

Mr Booth said the cases had to be listed for hearing "urgently" and he called for Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Heaton-Harris to ensure the inquests can go ahead.

"We are under the pressure of the legacy bill - that bill is pending, we believe it's going to come into law," he said.

"We believe that all these inquests should take place and should take place before April.

"For too long these families have sought answers as to what happened.

"New evidence raises serious questions, not only about the 8th Battalion of the Ulster Defence Regiment, but also the failure of the police to prosecute these individuals."

The UK government said its plan to end Troubles-era inquests next year would provide "better outcomes for families" and allow police and the judicial system could "focus on contemporary issues".

Dozens of families have good reason to fear their relatives' inquests may never be heard due to a UK government deadline.

The Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Bill will end all Troubles-related inquests in May unless they have reached the point of delivering findings.

Sixteen inquests are currently taking place.

But more than 20 others have yet to be heard, including the shooting of eight IRA men by the SAS at Loughgall in 1987.

The latest cases referred by the attorney general, and several others recently, are joining a lengthy queue.

They have just seven months to be dealt with.

That is a very tall order - and one which may ultimately deprive bereaved families of a long-awaited day in court.

Seventeen-year-old Mr O'Donnell, a member of the IRA, was killed at Boyle's Bar in Cappagh, County Tyrone, in 1991.

Mr Armstrong, who was 52, died in the same incident.

Mr McNally, 28, was murdered in a gun attack on the home of his brother, a Sinn Féin councillor, near Coagh, County Tyrone, in 1988.

Mr Casey, 57, was shot at a friend's house in Cookstown, County Tyrone, in 1990.

Mr Anderson, who was 32 and had served a prison sentence for IRA offences, was killed behind the wheel of his car in Pomeroy, County Tyrone, in 1991.

Phelim McNally's daughter said she was robbed of her father

Phelim McNally's daughter Davina Bolton said it was an important day for the families as they were finally getting closer to the truth.

"We've been waiting a long time for this - 35 years is a long time - and we just need the truth and justice," she said.

She said it was "heart-breaking" trying to explain to her children why their grandfather had died.

"They only go to a grave, that's all they know," she said.

"For us as a family, we were robbed of a father; our mother was robbed of a husband; our children were robbed of a grandfather.

"It's about closure for us and the truth and justice for Daddy."

Dwayne O'Donnell's sister Shauna Quinn said she did not expect to ever see anyone prosecuted in relation to her brother's death.

"However, what I'm looking [for] is that there is an acknowledgement that there was collusion - and a very high level of collusion - within the Cappagh case.

"If that's the result we get, that will satisfy us. We deserve the truth.

"Dwayne would have [turned] 50 last week. He died at 17 years of age. My mum was 39 when he passed away, her eldest child, and my daddy was 41.

"We just really all deserve the truth… all of the families that have been granted inquests today."