Bomb victim’s sister will never give up in search for justice

THE sister of one of the eight Protestant workmen killed in the Teebane bombing has vowed to never give up in her search for justice for the victims of the IRA attack.

Ruth Forrest was completely devastated when she lost her younger brother, David Harkness, after a massive explosion destroyed the minibus he was travelling in on January 17, 1992.

In the three decades since the bombing, no-one has ever been convicted in connection with the roadside attack. Ruth said that a report put together by the PSNI’s Historical Enquiries Team several years ago was simply a “paper exercise” which left the families of the victims with more questions than answers.

But, despite the lack of success in bringing anyone before the courts, the mother-of-four from Cookstown remains hopeful that justice will eventually be served for her brother and the others.

She said, “We’re not going to give up. I’m hopeful that some day, somewhere, someone will come forward. Somebody out there knows something.”

Looking back 30 years, Ruth said that David had just turned 24 days before his life ended in the blast at the crossroads.

“His presents were still in his room,” she said.

The joiner had only been back in Northern Ireland for six months prior to Teebane, having spent the previous two-and-a-half years in Australia. He had returned home as his mother was unwell, but had then taken the job at the army barracks in Omagh to raise the necessary funds to go back ‘Down Under’.

Ruth said that her brother was buried the day after her own 26th birthday. His death hit the Harkness family hard, having already lost older sister Doreen ten years before, a policewoman killed while on duty at a vehicle checkpoint. But David’s passing was particularly difficult for Ruth, who went into a state of shock for a year. The pair had been the youngest in their family and, growing up, did everything together.

“You cease to be the person you were. You just exist. But for my mum and dad, and my own young family, I had to try and function normally.”

She admitted that putting into words the grief that she felt was “very hard”.

“Part of you dies with that person. It’s something that you never, ever get over. It left a huge hole. You want answers. They were just decent, honest men, not in any way political. It’s horrendous, I wouldn’t wish it on anyone,” she said. But Ruth added that she has been able to adjust with time, although her experiences during the Troubles have left a lasting mark. Not only did she lose two siblings, but the IRA also attempted to murder their father in the late 1970s.

“It made me very over-protective of my four boys,” she said candidly.

Although there was precious little help for the family in the immediate aftermath of Teebane, in the years since they have received “fantastic” support from victims’ groups including South East Fermanagh Foundation (SEFF), Wave Trauma Centre and Mid Ulster Victims’ Empowerment.

But the Cookstown woman remains disappointed with the efforts of the police over the last three decades, and is scathing in her assessment of the Historical Enquiries Team (HET) report.

“It left us more frustrated then ever. We want answers, but there seems to be more closed doors.”

In response, the PSNI said it recognised and understood the continuing suffering still being experienced by all of the families of those killed and injured at Teebane.

A spokesperson said, “We are acutely aware that this week marks the 30th anniversary of this terrible attack and as such, this will be an even more difficult time for the families.” The PSNI said that “no new investigative opportunities” were identified as a result of the HET’s review of the attack.

The spokesperson added, “There are no outstanding further lines of inquiry to progress at this stage and the case does not form part of the current caseload of Legacy Investigation Branch. However, should any new evidence come to light it will be thoroughly investigated.”