'I've forgiven, and prayed for, the man who killed my son Michael'

Liam Tunney, Belfast Telegraph, February 7th, 2025

MUM OF TAXI DRIVER SHOT BY UVF IN 1996 SPEAKS AFTER GUNMAN'S DEATH

The mother of a Catholic taxi driver murdered by loyalist paramilitaries at the height of the Drumcree stand-off has said she forgives the man who pulled the trigger, following his death this week.

Michael McGoldrick (31) was murdered in July 1996 after loyalists ordered a taxi from a firm in Lurgan and lured the driver to his death on a remote country road.

Clifford McKeown (65), who was convicted of the sectarian killing in 2003 following a confession made to a journalist while in prison, died on Tuesday.

A day later, Mr McGoldrick's mother, Bridie, told the Belfast Telegraph she had already forgiven McKeown for what he did to her son.

“Every day since my son died, we have forgiven those that killed him,” she said.

“To this day, I still ask God to give me the grace to forgive him.

‘Don't get me wrong, it's not easy’

“I get through the day. I've prayed for him.

“Don't get me wrong, it's not easy, it can be very difficult, but I just keep trying to do my best.

“As a Christian, forgiveness is first and foremost in my faith. I hope he's forgiven.”

McKeown lay in wait for his victim as his accomplices stopped the taxi on the pretence of one of them needing to urinate. McKeown then made his approach and shot the father-of-two four times in the head.

A fifth shot was also fired, with McKeown later claiming it was to “finish him off”.

It is understood the man who became the first loyalist 'supergrass' in the early 1980s had been ill for some time and was freed from prison on compassionate grounds last summer.

Mr McGoldrick's murder took place at the height of the Drumcree crisis which saw Orange marches prevented from passing along Portadown's Garvaghy Road.

The UVF perpetrator claimed he carried out the chilling act as a birthday present to his then paramilitary boss, Billy Wright.

Wright was expelled from the terror gang as a result and formed his own savage militia, the Loyalist Volunteer Force (LVF).

According to McKeown's death notice, he died peacefully in hospital.

It reads: “Dearly loved brother of Debra, Geoffrey, Trevor, Roderick, Pamela and the late Malcolm. Also a loving uncle and great-uncle. Will be greatly missed and lovingly remembered by the entire family circle.”

Charity helps me keep my son's memory alive.

Bridie McGoldrick said she welcomed the fact McKeown had been allowed out of jail before he died.

“As I said, it's not an easy thing. I would never have forgiven the person that killed my son, but God has given me the grace to do it,” she said.

“It all comes from God, not me.

“I'm glad that he was released from prison to die at home and I'm glad that God's the judge, not me.”

Following their son's death, Bridie and her late husband, Michael Snr, who died after falling ill on one of his mercy missions, founded a charity in his honour called United Christian Aid.

However, continuing the initiative has been a struggle in recent years.

“I had to actually stop it three years ago due to serious health issues,” Bridie said.

“I'm unable to walk, really. That really, really upset me.

“But the one I can still keep going is in Malawi. I don't have to do the physical stuff that I'm not able to do any more; it's more the financial end of it.

“It helps me keep my son's memory alive.”

Clonoe inquest: Three reports of same hearing

Family ‘vindicated’ as coroner finds SAS killing of IRA men ‘not justified’

IRA MEN SHOT IN THE BACK AS THERY TRIED TO ESCAPE AMBUSH

By Connla Young, Crime and Security Correspondent, Irish News, February 06, 2025 at 3:57pm GMT

A sister of a man shot dead in a suspected SAS shoot-to-kill operation has said relatives feel “vindicated” after a coroner found that the use of force was “not justified”.

Kevin Barry O’Donnell (21), Sean O’Farrell (22), Peter Clancy (21) and Patrick Vincent (20) were shot dead in the grounds of St Patrick’s Church at Clonoe, near Coalisland, Co Tyrone, in February 1992.

Several people were also injured during the incident.

The four men had earlier taken part in a gun attack on Coalisland RUC station.

The 1992 Clonoe ambush site

Before the attack a hijacked lorry was fitted with a Russian made DShK machine gun.

When the IRA unit returned to a carpark at St Patrick’s Church to dismantle the weapon they were ambushed by the SAS, including 12 members who opened fire.

At a hearing in Belfast on Thursday coroner Michael Humphreys said that “in each case the use of force was not justified”.

“The soldiers did not have an honest belief that it was necessary that in order to prevent loss of life and the use of force by the soldiers was in the circumstances they believe them to be not reasonable,” he said.

‘Operation not planned and controlled to minimise recourse to lethal force.’

“The operation was not planned and controlled in such a way to as to minimise as to the greatest extent possible the need for recourse to lethal force.”

In his summing up the coroner, who is also a High Court judge, revealed that two of those who died, Kevin Barry O’Donnell and Sean O’Farrell, were shot in the back as they attempted to flee ambush site.

Both men were then shot in the face, with Mr O’Farrell being struck three times, as they lay incapacitated on the ground.

Mr Clancy was also shot while trying to escape and the coroner said that a bullet wound is “suggestive” of the dead the man “having his hands in the air at the time he was shot”.

The final victim was, Patrick Vincent, was found to be sitting in the cab of the hijacked lorry when he was shot and then when lying incapacitated across the vehicle’s seat.

Mr Humphrey’s found that the “indisputable circumstances of the incident at Clonoe are that no challenge was given”.

He added that the British soldiers were not shot at by the IRA men and that they used automatic fire and “well aimed shots”.

He also concluded that at least 514, and up to 570 rounds, were fired at the IRA members.

The coroner found that state agencies, including the RUC, told lies about the deadly ambush in its aftermath.

He said that a police press release claimed there was an “exchange of gunfire”.

False claim

The false claim was later repeated by the Ministry of Defence in a report to the then Secretary of State and in an internal British army report.

An RUC report also referred to an “exchange of gunfire”.

Mr Humpreys concluded that “It is also the case that agencies of the state perpetuated falsehoods about the events which unfolded at Clonoe.

“The initial press release referred to an “exchange of gunfire”, thereby ensuring that this was the narrative conveyed by the media,” he said.

“No steps were taken to rectify this and ensure that the public were made aware of a true account of events.

“Indeed, in submissions made to the inquest, wholly implausible attempts continue to be made to assert that members of the PIRA unit opened fire at the car park.

“This demonstrably did not happen.”

‘I think you feel a bit vindicated for their memory’

Mr Vincent’s sister, Marian Vincent, said relatives of the dead believe the men were executed.

“It isn’t even that the families take that view, the ballistic expert took that view and the coroner himself took that view,” she said.

“We knew that and that’s what we have felt.”

Ms Vincent said he inquest findings have had an impact.

“It was very emotional, there was a lot of tears,” she said.

“I think you feel a bit vindicated for their memory, for such a long process that we actually got to this end point.

Families of the 'Clonoe Four' leave the Coroner's Court in Belfast with their legal representatives following the report of findings into the deaths of four provisional IRA members shot dead in an SAS ambush at Clonoe, near Coalisland in County Tyrone in February 1992.

There were emotional scenes outside the Coroner's Court in Belfast following the report of findings into the deaths of four provisional IRA members shot dead in an SAS ambush at Clonoe, near Coalisland in February 1992. PICTURE: ALAN LEWIS/PHOTOPRESS BELFAST

“It’s bitter sweet too, it’s hard to say you are delighted about a verdict when ultimately what you are talking about is the truth has been confirmed in a court.

“But actually the truth comes back to the fact we have gone through a huge trauma and lost somebody very important to us.”

Independent Mid Ulster councillor Barry Monteith said he believed what happened constituted a breach of international law adding: “My thoughts are with the families, loved ones and friends of all four brave Irishmen”.

‘Beggars belief': Senior unionists slam 'ludicrous' inquest ruling on SAS ambush of IRA gang

Adrian Rutherford, Belfast Telegraph, February 7th, 2025

A coroner's ruling that an SAS team was unjustified in shooting dead an IRA gang on a terror mission could open the door for prosecutions, it is claimed.

It comes amid unionist anger over the findings of an inquest into the deaths of Patrick Vincent, Kevin O'Donnell, Peter Clancy and Sean O'Farrell.

DUP leader Gavin Robinson said it “beggars belief”.

The men — all members of the IRA's east Tyrone brigade — were killed in the grounds of St Patrick's Church near Clonoe in 1992, minutes after attacking Coalisland RUC Station.

Soldiers fired more than 500 rounds as the gang dumped a hijacked lorry used in the machine gun attack.

Delivering his findings in Belfast, presiding coroner Mr Justice Michael Humphreys found that in each case, the use of lethal force was not justified.

Mr Justice Humphreys, who is also a High Court judge, said the soldiers did not have an honest belief that lethal force was necessary to prevent loss of life, and its use by the soldiers was not reasonable.

The Daily Telegraph reported that the case could now be referred to prosecutors and police for criminal investigation.

One military source told The Telegraph: “As night follows day, we expect the coroner to refer these soldiers to prosecutors for investigation and possible prosecution.”

‘Whereas truth has been excavated… justice has not.’

Outside the court, Niall Murphy, a solicitor for the families, said: “Whereas truth has been excavated and published today, justice has not. And we're going to carefully consider this verdict with regards to any prospect of prosecutions.”

But unionists criticised the coroner's ruling.

Mr Robinson said: “The SAS operation at Clonoe was absolutely necessary and lawful action against an armed IRA unit that had just carried out an attack on a police station, posing an immediate and ongoing threat to security forces and civilians. This judgement beggars belief.”

Ulster Unionist MLA Doug Beattie said it was “ludicrous to say that the shooting of four heavily armed terrorists” was unjustified.

He added: “Nobody wants to see loss of life but when we weigh up the intent of the terrorists in what was an organised and murderous action, the end result is, to all right-minded people, justified.”

A spokesperson for the Lord Chief Justice's office said: “The full findings and verdict of Mr Justice Humphreys have been published and this office has nothing to add.”

The inquest was told that each of the men died shortly before 11pm on February 16, 1992.

The soldiers involved were referred to by ciphers, not their names.

Mr Justice Humphreys said that in his statement, Soldier F claimed he opened fire when he believed those in the lorry were about to open fire on the patrol.

IRA members running away

However, the inquest found that the IRA members were attempting to descend the lorry and run away and they could not have posed as a threat.

It found that O'Donnell (21) was shot in the back whilst attempting to flee and then again in the face whilst lying incapacitated on the ground.

Mr Justice Humphreys rejected claims by Soldiers F and H that they had an honest belief they needed to use force, and said it “must have been obvious to them” that O'Donnell presented no viable threat.

Clancy (21) was shot whilst attempting to run away and then repeatedly whilst in a crouched or kneeling position on the ground.

Vincent (20) was shot whilst seated in the cab of the lorry and then again when lying incapacitated across the seat of the lorry through its open doors, while O'Farrell (22) was shot in the back whilst running away and then in the face whilst lying on the ground incapacitated.

Mr Justice Humphreys also noted how police reports in the aftermath, including those provided to government ministers, referred to simultaneous firing and a firefight.

He said these statements were “demonstrably untrue and must have been known to be untrue”.

IRA Clonoe gang deaths: Unionists blast 'ludicrous' SAS unjustified force ruling, as coroner accused of treating terrorists like 'innocents out for an evening drive'

Unionists blast 'ludicrous' unjustified force ruling

By Iain Gray, Belfast News Letter, February 6th, 2025

Major Unionist voices have blasted a ruling that the SAS weren’t justified using lethal force against an armed IRA gang in the aftermath of a machine-gun attack on a police station.

Slating the verdict for treating armed terrorists as if they were “innocents out for an evening drive”, Baroness Kate Hoey slammed the ruling as another slap in the face for victims who will never see Republican gunmen brought to justice – and TUV leader Jim Allister accused the UK government of continuing a policy of “putting security forces in the dock, but never the terrorists”.

Meanwhile DUP leader Gavin Robinson stated the judgement “beggars belief”, arguing that the SAS “had to act decisively to neutralise the threat”.

Four IRA gang members were killed around 15 minutes after pumping 30 rounds of armour-piercing tracer ammunition from a Soviet-made heavy machine gun into a Coalisland RUC station on February 16, 1992.

Still armed with assault rifles and speeding their hijacked lorry into a church car park in the nearby village of Clonoe, where their getaway vehicles were stashed, the paramilitaries were surprised by an SAS squad waiting in ambush and shot dead.

On Thursday a coroner ruled the SAS weren’t justified in using lethal force during the incident – raising the ire of Unionists of all stripes.

‘Their evil acts deserved no mercy’

Baroness Kate Hoey reiterated that at the time, the security forces were fighting “an enemy who had no boundaries in their terror campaign of bombings and shootings of ordinary peaceful Protestants in border areas”.

"Their evil acts deserved no mercy,” she said, “and the coroner’s verdict in this case is yet another blow to those who will never see most IRA terrorists brought to justice.

“The UK government must speak out and condemn the attempts to rewrite history, as if those killed while on active service for the IRA were innocents out for an evening drive.”

The TUV’s Jim Allister MP argued that the getaway drive formed a deliberate and planned part of an active terrorist mission, adding that the gang were still armed with rifles at that point and therefore a “continuing threat”.

“If the continuing threat posed by such fully armed would-be murderers is neutralised, then that is a service to the public to whom they are a danger,” he said.

"Today we had another illustration of the coronial system, which Labour is pledged to continue, of putting the security forces, but never the terrorists, in the dock.”

The SAS were doing their job

Branding the ruling “ludicrous”, Ulster Unionist justice spokesman, Doug Beattie MLA, stated that the SAS made a split-second decision that “may well have saved lives”.

“In the cold light of day, in a warm courtroom, it is easy to criticise the actions of the military and the decisions they made,” he said.

"However, instead of dead police officers, civilians and lawful military personnel, four PIRA terrorists were killed.

"Nobody wants to see loss of life but when we weigh up the intent of the terrorists in what was an organised and murderous action, the end result is, to all right-minded people, justified.”

DUP leader Gavin Robinson MP maintained that in the context of the Troubles, the SAS’s actions were “a proportionate and justified counterterrorism measure aimed at protecting lives”.

He added: “The SAS operation at Clonoe was absolutely necessary and lawful action against an armed IRA unit that had just carried out an attack on a police station, posing an immediate and ongoing threat to security forces and civilians.

"This judgement beggars belief.

“Given the IRA’s history of deadly ambushes and refusal to surrender, the SAS had to act decisively to neutralise the threat.”

And fellow DUP MP Jim Shannon described the verdict as an “outrageous ruling”.

"The SAS were doing their job - stopping terrorists in their tracks,” he stated.

OMAGH PUBLIC INQUIRY

Omagh victim’s widower ‘met with a wall of silence’

Omagh victim’s widower ‘met with a wall of silence’

Grainnr Ni Aodha, Irish News, February 7th, 2025

THE widower of one of the victims of the Omagh bombing had “demanded accountability” but was “met with wall of silence”, a public inquiry was told.

It came as the second week of commemorative hearings for the victims at the Omagh Bombing Inquiry concluded.

Twenty-nine people, including a woman pregnant with twins, were murdered in the Real IRA attack on August 15 1998.

The inquiry is examining whether the bombing could reasonably have been prevented by the security forces.

Yesterday the inquiry heard about the life of Elizabeth ‘Libbi’ Rush, whose husband Laurence was an active campaigner in calling for a public inquiry. Mr Rush died in 2012 at the age of 70.

Their daughter Siobhan Rush said her parents were “soulmates” who first met at a dance when they were both 14 years old.

She said her mother worked at a shop on Market Street in Omagh, and was known for her “discretion and gentle nature”.

“She was respectful to others, wise, compassionate and thoughtful. More than anything else, Libbi loved her family with every bone in her body,” she said in a statement on behalf of herself and her brothers, Andrew and Anthony.

Cultures of paramilitary and state control

After her mother’s death, her father sought answers on why his wife had been killed but was “met with a wall of silence”.

Siobhan said that “even friends and extended family avoided the subject” but her father was “undeterred”.

“We understand that this culture of silence is a method of coping but also the external role of silence is a form of paramilitary and state control of our communities,” she said.

“Our father Laurence Rush was unable to stay silent, because he knew that silence was a lie.”

She said that her father “demanded accountability and transparency” and “relentlessly confronted all” out of love for his wife, Libbi.

“We believe the Omagh bomb was a crime against humanity. We believe there were policies in place to ignore or de-escalate any tensions that could prompt changes in the current narrative.

“We believe our father’s quest for the truth exposed the atrocity as a premeditated war tactic. Experiencing 30 years of war and conflict, retaliation and the cycle of violence, we believe until we address the root causes and social injustices, we will never see resolution.

“Peace will never prevail. Our children will continue to be enemies, divided by the inaccuracies in their history.”

“We understand that this culture of silence is a method of coping but also the external role of silence is a form of paramilitary and state control of our communities.”

Teenage charity shop volunteer was ‘a wonderful girl with a kind heart’

Grainne Ní Aodha, Irish News, February 7th, 2025

INQUIRY chair Lord Turnbull contrasted the actions of a teenage girl killed in the bombing as she was volunteering at a charity shop with those responsible for the attack.

Samantha McFarland (17) from Omagh, was described as “popular, diligent and a person who passed with flying colours the test of life”.

Paul Greaney KC said she was the youngest of three children and was to be the bridesmaid at her older brother’s wedding.

The inquiry heard she was “a wonderful young girl who had a kind heart and a genuine kindness that people were drawn to”.

She was studying for her A-levels, loved music, books and geography, and had “a curiosity about other parts of the world”.

She had been volunteering in the Oxfam shop with her best friend Lorraine Wilson, where she worked one day a week over the summer, and also sometimes volunteered at the town’s Barnardo’s charity shop.

When the girls were evacuated from the shop on August 15 1998, Samantha did not want to go too far because she had the keys to the shop, the inquiry was told.

She touched many lives

“ Unlike those responsible for the bombing, Samantha truly did pass the test of life with flying colours,

‘Senseless killing of children and young people about to embark on the adventure of life’

At her funeral, she was described as “popular, diligent, and a person who passed with flying colours the test of life”.

“She was a very private person, but also a very sociable person who touched the lives of so many others. So many people attended Samantha’s funeral that mourners had to stand outside.”

Lord Turnbull, said the inquiry had heard many accounts about young people killed in the bombing.

He said that among the other “awful” losses of life, there was “the senseless killing of children and young people who were about to embark on the adventure of life”.

He added: “One really has to wonder whether there could be any greater contrast of the generous and socially minded attitude of a teenager who chose to spend the precious spare time of her young years trying to help those with less advantages than herself, and on the other hand, the morality of those who would walk away from a car loaded with explosives in the middle of the main street on a sunny Saturday afternoon in the sure knowledge that devastation would ensue shortly thereafter.

“The loss to Samantha’s family will have weighed heavily with them over all of these years, but the inquiry is grateful to have learned of her life and of its real value.

“Unlike those responsible for the bombing, Samantha truly did pass the test of life with flying colours.”

A cousin of Samantha’s, Gerald, was present at the hearing, and Samantha’s father Gerald and brother Richard watched the proceedings remotely.

Comment

The historical trauma in Northern Ireland still affects the lives of many people, especially those who lost loved ones or experienced conflict during the Troubles. No matter how many years have passed, the impact of these events is still profound, especially for individuals who experienced violence in their childhood. These ongoing investigations and testimonies are not only to restore the truth, but also to allow society to better understand and heal the trauma. I hope that the future will bring more reconciliation and peace.

Daisy

I’ve always found forgiveness a deeply personal and individual thing.

On my journey, where vengeance was a motive to me enlisting in the British Army, forgiveness is not something the 16 year old, or indeed the 30 year old me would countenance.

Yet, here I am in my late 50s sitting down with members of the Provos exemplifying parity of esteem, and where in some cases those members of have become sound friends or great acquaintances.

I forgave those that harmed me as a child and who murdered my relations not because their actions deserve forgiveness but because I deserve peace, authentic peace of mind. 

It was a decision of my heart that went against my natural instincts to “hurt back”. It was deeply personal because it was about allowing me space to resolve and transform from the conflict mindset that had consumed me.

Glenn Bradley

I agree. Forgiveness and reconciliation are deeply personal things that need to happen between individuals far more than through public figures and institutions.

It may be easier for former combatants to achieve reconciliation because they have more in common with each other than they have with victims and survivors.

Former combatants made a conscious decision, if not always a well informed one, to pick a side and were aware of the potential consequences of their actions for themselves, and for others.

Victims and survivors who suffered life changing injuries, and families who lost loved ones never chose their fate. This was also true of those who might have subscribed to various causes within their own community without thinking through the possible consequences.

All those not involved in the conflict but who suffered serious injury, or the loss of a family member will understandably rage at the injustice of what happened to them. For them forgiveness and reconciliation with those who inflicted such suffering is much harder.

That’s what makes Bridie McGoldrick’s actions after losing her son Michael all the more remarkable - and needed in a deeply divided society.

Padraig Yeates