Murders of the Gibsons:Judge Cory writes with obvious passion about the murder of Lord Justice Gibson and his wife.
He cites the importance of the role of independent courts in arbitrating in disputes between citizen and citizen and between citizen and state. He details their contribution to youth work and the voluntary sector and refers to their service during the second World War.
He states: "The killing of Lord Justice Gibson was not simply the murder of an individual, it was a blow against the preservation of justice in the community." He says the murders of the elderly judge and his wife "encouraged chaos and a complete breakdown of society".
The judge had earlier found himself in the midst of fierce controversy following the shooting of three men in Co Armagh who were believed to have been members of the Provisional IRA. They were Eugene Toman, Gervaise McKerr and Sean Burns. They died when police officers opened fire on their car at a roundabout in Co Armagh. They hit the car 109 times as it drove through a police checkpoint without stopping.
Following the later acquittal of the officers, Lord Justice Gibson stated: "I wish to make it clear that, having heard the entire Crown's case, I regard each of the accused as absolutely blameless in this matter. That finding should be put on record along with my own commendation as to their courage and determination for bringing the three dead men to justice, in this case, to the final court of justice."
Outrage followed, with some nationalists saying the judge had in some way endorsed a "shoot-to-kill" policy. The judge later denied this, but from that point on, Judge Cory believes, Judge Gibson was a marked man.
Threats against his life had earlier come to the attention of the Garda and documents exist confirming the relaying of such information by the Garda to the RUC as early as 1974.
Other incidents confirmed this, and the judge's holiday home in Co Donegal was destroyed by arsonists in July 1984.
Despite this, the Gibsons crossed the Border frequently despite the threat against the judge in particular and the Northern judiciary in general.
In December 1986 the Gibsons planned a holiday in England with some arrangements being booked in their name.
They left Belfast on April 14th, 1987, and had planned to return using the Liverpool-Dublin ferry. Judge Cory finds that many people knew of their itinerary including their planned return to Dublin on April 25th. Both the Garda and the RUC would also have known.
On April 13th the RUC informed the Garda of details of the Gibsons' car to assist in escort duties. This was confirmed by Border Supt Bob Buchanan, later to become an IRA victim himself.
Det Garda Mostyn and Det Garda Shovlin were assigned to escort the Gibsons after they arrived in Dublin and they travelled in convoy to the Border.
There they stopped where the Gibsons thanked their escorts and shook hands with them before continuing into Co Armagh.
The Garda officers had maintained radio silence throughout and began their return journey. The Gibsons, having driven 400 metres into Northern Ireland, were caught in a massive explosion before they were able to make contact with an RUC escort which was to accompany them to Belfast.
The RUC later determined that the bomb has been triggered by a radio signal. The IRA claimed responsibility for the attack which was "carefully planned" and carried out against "the evil and corrupt paid perjurer judicial system in the North".