NORTHERN SECRETARY Owen Paterson has refused to back a public inquiry demanded by the relatives of 10 Protestants gunned down in south Armagh in 1976.
After meeting the families of those killed in the Kingsmill massacre at Stormont yesterday, Mr Paterson said he would not be calling on the Police Service of Northern Ireland to reopen the inquiry into the killings.
The relatives also met PSNI Assistant Chief Constable Drew Harris, giving him a file of information on the incident they believe merits a reopening of the investigation, and pledged to meet him again in six weeks.
The meetings follow last month’s publication of a Historical Enquiries Team (HET) report into the murders, which ruled the IRA was responsible and had targeted the victims because of their religion. Mr Paterson said although he supported the families in their quest for justice, it was a matter for police. “It would be quite wrong of me to raise their hopes that I can somehow overrule the whole system,” he said.
“I do not have a drawer full of fresh evidence, and I certainly do not have the political remit to overrule the correct procedures of law and order. They are that following an HET report, police have the right to take charges forward should there be enough evidence; then the process of rule of law should take its place. It certainly never was the role of the secretary of state to override the operational independence of the police force.”
Ulster Unionist Party MLA Danny Kennedy, who organised the meetings, said he disagreed with Mr Paterson: “The secretary of state believes this is a devolved matter – there are issues around national security which mean it should be his responsibility.”
Mr Kennedy added the families also wanted to meet Taoiseach Enda Kenny to highlight their case. Following the meeting with Mr Harris, he said progress had been made. “We are obviously still in discussions with the PSNI. It has been taken very seriously by the PSNI and by the HET.”
He added that those involved “will maintain the need for a further police investigation”.
A police spokesperson said Mr Harris would study the file and “commission work to address issues raised by the families”.
On January 5th, 1976, the textile workers, who were travelling home from work in a minibus, were stopped by a man on the road. As soon as the vehicle pulled to a halt, 11 masked men, all armed, emerged from hedges at the side of the road.
The workers were asked their religion, and the lone Catholic was allowed to leave. The remaining 11 were shot, including one who survived despite 18 bullet wounds. The South Armagh Republican Action Force claimed responsibility, as the IRA was on ceasefire at the time.