‘We can’t accept that the truth will continue to be untold’

THE sister of one of four men murdered in a brutal shooting at Cappagh in 1991 has spoken of her family’s devastation after the Legacy Act came into effect Wednesday.

Dwayne O’Donnell was just 17-years-old when he was murdered on March 3, 1991, at Boyle’s Bar in the village. He died in the UVF gun attack, which also claimed the lives of John Quinn (22), Malcolm Nugent (20) and Thomas Armstrong (52) in the attack.

Séana Quinn, a sister of Dwayne O’Donnell, said that they continued to live in hope that the truth would be told about what had happened to their loved one.

“With the history of the British Government, who continuously suppress their dirty deeds, one could ask were we foolish to an extent, as this is something we always feared would be denied,” she told the UlsterHerald.

“We cannot accept that the truth will continue to be untold.

“It can’t be allowed to happen, and we won’t be giving up.

“It is unacceptable that the British Government’s involvement in the murder of our loves ones will continue to be covered up.”

The sectarian gun attack was claimed by the East Tyrone Brigade of the Ulster Volunteer Force.

Three of those who died were in the car, which had just parked outside the premises, and the fourth died when the Loyalist gunmen raked Boyle’s pub with gunfire, firing through the window.

ALLEGED COLLUSION

There is a widespread belief that the killing was State-sponsored, and involved collusion with the Loyalist paramilitaries.

An extensive report into the shooting and the collusion was completed by Relatives For Justice in 2016.

Séana has called for action to ensure that the full details of how State forces were involved in the killings of her brother, the three other men in Cappagh and dozens of others.

She says that their fight for the truth will go on despite the introduction of the Legacy Act.

“They (the British Government) must be held to account, and we are calling on the Irish Government, Europe, America and the rest of the world to intervene, by standing firm and not allowing this to happen,” she added.

“Please take a closer look at what the State is actually doing here by denying us the families, and many others, the truth and justice that we all deserve by hiding their own involvement.”