The surviving brother of three men killed in a brutal slaying in south Armagh more than 50 years ago has agreed settlements worth £400,000 with the PSNI and Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Eugene Reavey, who brought a civil case against the two bodies to the High Court today, (Thursday) accepted the settlements for negligence and the trauma caused to him in the aftermath of their deaths.
SDLP MLA Justin McNulty has described the outcome in the Reavey brothers’ murder case as a “proud day” for the Whitecross community and for south Armagh, 50 years on from the atrocity.
The case, heard at the High Court in Belfast, centred on allegations of state collusion in the murders of John Martin (25), Brian (22) and Anthony (17) Reavey, who were gunned down when loyalist paramilitaries burst into the family’s farmhouse at Whitecross on January 4, 1976.
Two of the brothers died at the scene; the youngest, Anthony, succumbed to his injuries later that month. The killings took place during one of the most violent phases of the Troubles and happened the night before the Kingsmills massacre, when 10 Protestant workmen were murdered.
In his action, Mr Reavey alleged that members of the security forces had been involved alongside loyalist gunmen, and that a weapon used in the attack had been stolen from a military base by a serving soldier. He also claimed he suffered years of harassment and mistreatment at the hands of soldiers and police officers in the aftermath, including being repeatedly questioned over the Kingsmills massacre despite having no involvement.
This week’s resolution saw the PSNI and Ministry of Defence agree a combined payment understood to be among the largest legacy settlements of its kind. The PSNI will pay £175,000, with £225,000 to come from the Ministry of Defence. While the MoD did not admit liability, the Chief Constable issued a formal apology on behalf of the police.
In court, the PSNI acknowledged serious investigative failings and accepted that the conduct of officers in the former RUC had deepened the suffering of the Reavey family over decades. Crucially, police also confirmed that the three brothers had no involvement whatsoever in terrorism or paramilitary activity – a point Mr Reavey has campaigned to have officially recognised for almost half a century.
Mr McNulty, who attended a number of the High Court hearings with the family, said the settlement and apology mark an important moment in the long fight to restore the brothers’ reputations.
“Not only did Eugene Reavey have to cope with the loss of his brothers in the worst circumstances imaginable, he was subjected to repeated harassment and abuse while his brothers’ memories were tarnished by false claims that they were paramilitaries,” he said.
“I welcome the fulsome apology offered by Chief Constable Jon Boutcher and his acceptance of the failures of the RUC. While no settlement can undo the pain suffered by the Reavey family, this acknowledgement of the truth is an important moment. It should never have taken so long to reach this point.
“The strength and bravery shown by Eugene Reavey over the past five decades has been extraordinary. He knew his brothers were innocent and never stopped fighting for truth and justice, determined to clear their names. I was honoured to stand with Eugene and his family in court today when this settlement was reached and to see them finally receive this long overdue acknowledgement – it is a proud day for the Reavey Family, and a proud day for Whitecross and South Armagh.”
