THE brother of a man shot dead by the British army 30 years ago demanded last
night that the UK government establish an inquiry into the killing.
Willie Loughran’s brother John was one of six men shot dead during a 90-minute
period on the night of February 3 and 4 1973 in the New Lodge area of north
Belfast.
The other men who died were Jim Sloan, Jim McCann, Tony Campbell, Brendan
Maguire and Ambrose Hardy.
Yesterday the New Lodge Six Time for Truth committee marked the thirtieth
anniversary of the killings by launching the report of a community inquiry into
the men’s deaths. A panel of international jurists opened the community inquiry
in November last year.
The British army initially claimed that it had shot dead six armed IRA men but
later retracted that statement.
The IRA admitted that Mr Sloan, Mr McCann and Mr Campbell were all members but
denied that they were on active service at the time.
Willie Loughran, who was joined at yesterday’s launch by senior politicians and
religious figures, said the inquiry findings proved all six men had been
vindicated and their innocence proven.
“That night was a very peaceful night. There was not an incident at all. This
act was planned out and went like clockwork and took the lives of six innocent
sons from the New Lodge,” he said.
“This is a sad moment for all the families but it should also be celebrated
because the truth that the families have known all along has been established.”
Mr Loughran said it was vital that the British government established a full
independent and public inquiry into the deaths.
“I think that the onus is now fairly and squarely on the British government to
at least respond to the findings of the inquiry,” he said.
“In the interests of peace-building and reconciliation it would only be fair and
just that the British government respond so people see that justice is done.”
In its findings the inquiry panel concluded that there was no evidence to
indicate that any of the deceased and wounded were armed at the time of their
shooting or acting in a manner which might have been interpreted as a potential
threat to the security forces.
New Lodge Six committee chairman Paul O’Neill said that the report put the
British government in the dock over the killings.
“The New Lodge community has always emphatically denied the version of events
promoted by the British government,” he said.
“This version has caused much distress and anxiety to the families while also
ensuring it remains an open wound to this day.”
Angela Ritchie from Madden and Finucane Solicitors said the findings would be
presented to the British government.