Reavey brother wants Paisley apology

Published Wednesday, 19 May 2010
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A Historical Enquiries Team report into the loyalist murders of three south Armagh brothers in 1976 has exonerated them and their family of any links to paramilitarism.

The report, exclusively obtained by UTV, says John Martin, Brian and Anthony Reavey were entirely innocent victims.

The three Catholic brothers were shot dead by six masked men who burst into their home in Whitecross in January 1976.

Another brother, Eugene Reavey, battled for decades to clear his name after he was wrongly accused of masterminding the killings of ten Protestant workmen in an IRA ambush 24 hours later.

In 1999 former DUP leader Ian Paisley Sr used parliamentary privilege to accuse Eugene Reavey of masterminding the Kingsmills massacre, one of the worst sectarian killings of the Troubles.

But the Historical Enquiries Team investigation has now completely exonerated the entire Reavey family.

In its final report, the HET says: "There is no doubt that John Martin, Brian and Anthony Reavey were entirely innocent victims.

"Research by HET confirms that they did not have any criminal convictions or links to any paramilitary group.

"No member of the Reavey family had any verified links to any paramilitary group, contrary to later speculation."

Apology

Eugene Reavey told UTV it has been an incredibly difficult experience for their family.

"It's not very nice having people turning their back on you walking away from you whispering behind your back."

"I always believed they were innocent. It was a matter of staying with the HET and working with them and finally this is the endgame for us really."

Eugene was in Kingsmills at the time of the attack, but he was on his way to the morgue to pick up the bodies of his brothers.

The security forces had locked down the area and Eugene tried to clear traffic, so he could get to the morgue.

"I was not there for any sinister reason. I was there because I was on my way," he told UTV.

In 2007, the Reavey family received an apology from the Historical Enquiries Team for their treatment by members of the security forces.

Eugene Reavey says he now wants an apology from Ian Paisley Sr for the comments he made in 1999, and is also seeking an apology by the new justice minister David Ford through the assembly.

Eugene Reavey has called for Dr Paisley "to do the decent thing".

"I know he was fed a bum steer when he was given the document but it's not too late for him to apologise to my mother. Forget about me and everyone else I just want him to apologise to my mother," he told UTV.

Those responsible for his brothers' murders are known as the Glenanne Gang, a group which allegedly got help from elements within the security forces.

UTV understands the innocence of the Reavey family was known by police from the start.

According to the HET report, the officer in charge of the investigation said: "No way were the Reaveys involved in any paramilitary activities whatsoever."

He said there was much disinformation, speculative and fabricated intelligence about which hindered investigations.

Four guns were used in the Reavey brothers' killings.

UTV can also reveal that some of these weapons were also used in ten murders, including the killing of three men at Donnelly's bar in Silverbridge in 1975, and numerous other attacks.

No-one has been brought to justice for the murders of the Reavey brothers.

Mr Paisley could not be reached for comment.

© UTV News
Comments Comments
8 Comments
Frosty in Here wrote (1,055 days ago):
Ian Paisley arrested for stirring up sectarian violence? You joking? Did you not read he's just been kicked upstairs for his part in orchestrating the Troubles on behalf of the warmongers? Next in line for promotion with the Old Firm will be Sir Martin McGuinness and Gerry Adams OBE.
Everybodyknows in Belfast wrote (1,101 days ago):
Everybody knows that Ian Paisley was the IRA's best recruiting officer. And everybody knows that RUC and UDR guns were used for UDA/UVF murders - that's why loyalist murder guns were "never found" - nobody looked!
Sam Millar in Belfast wrote (1,101 days ago):
Paisley is a moral coward. He'll never apologize. He doesn't have it in him.
Regan McShane in chicago wrote (1,101 days ago):
I agree Paisley should be jailed for putting this inocent mans life at risk,shame on you ian
hopefull in belfast wrote (1,102 days ago):
Dr Paisley has opened his mouth publicly and accused other families of being something they were not in the past, his lies are finding him out. The decent thing on this occassion i believe he should apologise for his remarks. That of course something he has to do at a personal level. The hurt Dr Paisley has caused to other families in similiar circumstances wether it was intentional or other I believe can never be undone with many decent law abiding individuals going to their graves wondering the same. Labelled and tarred with the same brush Thankgod we have moved away from those dark days....when paisley remarks were considered by many to be the truth because he was a man of God.
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