It is “long past time” that a south Armagh man received truth and justice over the murder of his three brothers by the Glenanne Gang almost 50 years ago, as a landmark civil action opened in Belfast on Monday.
Today (Wednesday), Eugene Reavey began proceedings at Laganside Courts against the former RUC (now PSNI) and the Ministry of Defence, seeking damages for negligence, misfeasance in public office and life-long trauma arising from how he was treated by state authorities after the killing of his brothers John Martin, Anthony and Brian in January 1976.
The three young men were murdered in their family home near Whitecross by the Glenanne Gang, a loyalist paramilitary grouping linked in multiple investigations to members of the RUC, UDR and British Army.
SDLP Newry and Armagh MLA Justin McNulty, who attended the opening day of the hearing to support Mr Reavey and his relatives, said it had been an “honour” to stand with the family in court.
“It was an honour to be in court today to support my friend Eugene Reavey and his family and to be there with so many other people who have suffered at the hands of the murderous Glenanne Gang,” he said.
“It was powerful to see so many well-wishers who have supported Eugene’s quest for truth and justice for close to half a century.
“Eugene and his family, despite their pain, have exhibited only immense dignity, resilience and determination. Their day in court has come and the evidence as presented was overwhelming.
“I hope that the court will deliver the full truth and the justice that Eugene and his family have for so long truly deserved.”
Sinn Féin representatives also attended the first day of the hearing and reiterated their support for the Reavey family.
Newry and Armagh MP Dáire Hughes said the case was taking place in the shadow of one of the most notorious sectarian murder campaigns of the Troubles.
“Just over 50 years ago, John Martin, Brian and Anthony Reavey were brutally murdered in their home in Whitecross by the Glenanne Gang in a sectarian attack that targeted innocent men,” he said.
“The Glenanne Gang was responsible for a campaign of sectarian murder across Armagh, Tyrone and beyond, with up to 120 killings attributed to the group. Numerous reports, investigations and legal proceedings have also exposed deeply disturbing levels of collusion between the gang and British state forces, including members of the UDR and RUC.”
Mr Hughes said the Reavey family’s campaign had become emblematic of wider efforts by bereaved relatives to secure accountability for conflict-era killings.
“Eugene Reavey and the wider Reavey family have shown immense courage, determination and dignity in their pursuit of truth and justice over the past five decades,” he continued.
“Like every family bereaved during the conflict, they are entitled to truth, justice and acknowledgement. These are fundamental principles of the rule of law.”
Newry and Armagh MLA Aoife Finnegan said she was “shocked” by revelations in court that significant Ministry of Defence material had not previously been made available to earlier inquiries into the Glenanne Gang.
“I was shocked to learn that significant documents relating to the investigation of up to 120 murders carried out by the so-called Glenanne Gang were not disclosed to either the Historical Enquiries Team or Operation Denton during their investigations,” she said.
“It emerged in court today that important documents were only made available to Eugene Reavey’s legal team despite two previous police investigations into these matters. This raises serious questions which must now be answered.”
She called on both the PSNI and the Ministry of Defence to urgently clarify the position around disclosure.
“I am calling on both the PSNI and the Ministry of Defence to urgently address this issue and ensure that all relevant documentation is made available to investigators. These documents are central to the findings of Operation Denton and are linked to 11 murders, including the murders of the Reavey brothers.
“I want to commend Eugene Reavey and his family for their tireless and unwavering campaign to uncover the truth. Their determination has been instrumental in bringing these issues before the courts and ensuring that difficult questions continue to be asked.”
The Sinn Féin representatives said that full disclosure and transparency were “essential” if public confidence was to be maintained in legacy investigations.
They added that families must receive “the truth and accountability they have been denied for far too long”.
