An Garda Siochana have been accused of “effectively ignoring” requests to co-operate with an inquest into the 1976 Kingsmill massacre.
A group of 10 Protestant men were murdered in the massacre by IRA gunmen. The group was travelling home from their work in a textile factory in Co. Armagh when the gunmen attacked. It is believed the IRA operatives travelled from Louth.
Today’s hearing was the latest in a series of preliminary hearings ahead of the full inquest.
Barrister Neil Rafferty, acting on behalf of family of one of the victims, told the court he is “simply shocked” that the Gardai have offered no substantive response to requests for assistance in the inquest, the Belfast News Letter reports.
It is six months since the Gardai were asked to engage with the investigation by the Coroner’s Service. The Senior Coroner, John Leckey, wants to access Garda files to assist his investigation.
Counsel for the coroner informed the court: "There has been ongoing correspondence seeking their active engagement with this process but to date nothing substantive, apart from holding replies, have been received.”
“It must be understood by all concerned, including the commissioner for An Garda Siochana, this was a mass murder planned, conceived and launched from Co Louth and it was recovered to Co Louth,” said Mr Rafferty.
The car used in the attack was stolen in Co. Louth before being abandoned there after the attack. Mr. Rafferty told the court: “it would be inconceivable that you would get anywhere close to a meaningful inquiry into these matters without the active engagement of the Garda.”
Rafferty called for an official request for engagement from An Garda Siochana. "This, at a senior level, is receiving very, very little attention within An Garda Siochana and an informal contact – respectfully – is not going to do it.
“It’s going to take political will, it’s going to take will on behalf of An Garda Siochana to meaningfully engage on what was an absolute atrocity.”
When the gunmen stopped the van carrying the workers they asked those inside what religion they were. Catholic workers were allowed leave before the Protestant workers were murdered. There has never been any convictions in relation to the killings.
