UVF pub shooting survivors awarded millions over state collusion in 1992 Kilcoo attack

Eight survivors of a loyalist gun attack at a County Down pub have won a multi-million pound settlement from the PSNI and MoD. The 1992 UVF shooting killed Peter McCormack and seriously injured three others.

Millions paid to survivors of 1992 UVF attack at Kilcoo pub

Eight survivors of a UVF gun attack at the Thierafurth Inn in Kilcoo, County Down, have been awarded a multi-million pound compensation settlement from the PSNI and the Ministry of Defence, BBC News reports. The exact sum was not disclosed during the High Court hearing in Belfast, but it is believed to be one of the largest payouts in a Troubles-related case.

Peter McCormack, 42, was shot dead when two gunmen opened fire inside the pub in 1992. Three others were seriously injured. The bar was full of customers preparing to take part in a charity darts match.

The eight survivors brought civil proceedings over allegations of state collusion in the attack. Four years ago, the High Court had already ruled that the PSNI failed to carry out an effective investigation into the shooting.

One of the suspects was a member of the British Army's Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR). The UVF claimed they had been targeting a named republican who was not present at the pub, and that they had identified him using photo montages taken from a UDR base. The gang was also linked to other murders in County Down, including the Loughinisland massacre.

A 2016 Police Ombudsman report found that at least three individuals directly associated with the UVF in south County Down — along with their families — were UDR members, and that police had made no sustained effort to disrupt their activities.

Speaking after Wednesday's hearing, Patrick Gribben, one of those wounded in the attack, said the shooting still caused him nightmares. "It's something you don't get over," he said.

Solicitor Gavin Booth described the settlement as "a proper acknowledgement of the pain and trauma caused," adding that rather than being prosecuted, the killers were "protected by the state and never brought to justice."

Fellow survivor John McAvoy said he regarded the outcome as "a victory for us," but cautioned that "compensation doesn't change what happened and doesn't change that those who did it are still out there."

Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard said it was a good day, but added he would "much rather have seen justice done and those perpetrators brought before the courts."

The civil case took 11 years to reach a conclusion.

Source: BBC News