Woman whose son was killed by IRA dies

Tributes have been paid to Ms Maureen Kearney, from west Belfast, who died on Sunday

Tributes have been paid to Ms Maureen Kearney, from west Belfast, who died on Sunday. Ms Kearney's son, Andrew, was killed by the Provisional IRA in July.

Ms Kearney (65) said it would be her dying wish to see justice done to her son's killers. She waged a campaign against terrorist violence and once confronted the senior IRA man she believed was responsible for her son's death in a local supermarket.

Mr Andrew Kearney (33) died when he was shot in both legs in the flat where he lived in the New Lodge area. The killers pulled out the phone and blocked the lift, delaying medical attention and Mr Kearney bled to death.

Ms Kearney, who suffered from heart trouble and diabetes, was recently admitted to the Royal Victoria Hospital for tests. Doctors said she was suffering from stress and she died on Sunday. Her family said she died from a broken heart and that the IRA killers should have her death on their conscience.

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Tributes were paid yesterday by Mr Andrew Pedan, whose legs were amputated following a loyalist "punishment" attack. He said Ms Kearney had given him encouragement. Ms Margaret McKinney, whose son, Brian, was one of the disappeared whose bodies were recently uncovered in Co Monaghan, described her as a "wonderful and genuine" woman.