Sir, - I wish to draw your readers' attention to the fact that, eight years on, there has not as yet been an inquest into the death of Sam Marshall shot dead by the UVF close to Lurgan RUC station on March 7th, 1990.
The Coroner for the District says he does not want to upset the Marshall family any further by holding an inquest. To delay an inquest for so long is most unusual in any place other than in a tyrannical regime. His family are convinced that the reason for delaying the inquest is to protect the RUC in general and one particular inspector, who is alleged to have said on one occasion to Sam Marshall: "The next time I see you, you will be in a body bag."
There are many questions to be answered in this case and it would appear that the authorities in Lurgan and Armagh are now colluding in preventing the truth about Sam Marshall's death from being told. Sam Marshall was on his way from Lurgan RUC station, along with Colin Duffy and Tony McCaughey, when they were confronted by two assassins. They were conscious that evening of being followed by a number of different cars, which they thought might be Special Branch.
All three were out on bail and part of their bail condition was to sign on twice weekly at Lurgan RUC station at 7.30 pm on Wednesdays and 2.30 pm on Saturdays. Times for signing were known only to themselves, their solicitor and the RUC. As the three walked near to Kilmaine Street corner about 7.40 pm after signing on at the RUC station, two masked men got out from a red Rover car and opened fire with AK47 automatic rifles. Colin and Tony ran for cover but Sam Marshall was hit on the legs and could not run. He was then shot in the head with two bullets. Nobody has ever been charged with his murder. This is hardly surprising given the recent evidence of collusion between the loyalist death squads and the RUC.
This case needs to be investigated and the truth must be told. If the peace is to be secured, the truth about the sinister activities of those in high office needs to be made public. A first step in establishing the truth might be the holding of a public inquest. - Yours, etc., Fr Joe McVeigh,
Centre for Human Rights,
Springhill,
Belfast.