Families of murdered Catholics pledge legal fight

The families of 10 people killed in controversial circumstances in Northern Ireland are likely to take their fight for justice…

The families of 10 people killed in controversial circumstances in Northern Ireland are likely to take their fight for justice to the European Court of Human Rights, it was claimed tonight.

Sinn Féin MP Mr Michelle Gildernew said the Ministry of Defence and the Police Service of Northern Ireland may have to face the court in Strasbourg if they do not disclose documents relating to the deaths.

The Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP insisted the British justice system could not deal with cases involving allegations of collusion or of a shoot-to-kill policy within the security forces.

Ms Gildernew said the families of three civilians shot dead by loyalist gunmen and seven IRA men shot dead by the SAS in Co Tyrone would not rest until justice was done.

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"We're certainly en route to the High Court and will probably have to go to Europe to get this sorted out," she said. "The justice system in this country is just not equipped to deal with cases in which there are allegations of collusion."

Ms Gildernew spoke outside Dungannon Courthouse after the 11th preliminary hearing of the inquest into the deaths of Catholic pensioner Roseanne Mallon, Jack and Kevin McKearney, and seven IRA men shot dead in Coagh and Clonoe in the early 1990s.

The MoD and PSNI have provided edited documents to the inquests into the deaths of the 10 people.

Jack and Kevin McKearney were shot by a loyalist gunman as they worked in their family butcher's shop in Moy, Co Tyrone, in January 1992. Kevin died instantly, while his uncle Jack died three months later.

Four IRA members - Kevin Barry O'Donnell, Patrick Vincent, Sean O'Farrell and Peter Clancy - were shot dead by the SAS in an ambush at Clonoe, Co Tyrone, in 1992.

Three others - Peter Ryan, Tony Doris and Lawrence McNally - were killed in Coagh, Co Tyrone, in June 1991 when SAS soldiers fired around 200 shots into the stolen car in which they were travelling. Both incidents have been dogged by allegations of a shoot-to-kill policy within the security forces.