Eight survivors of a 1992 UVF gun attack have been awarded millions in compensation following a civil case that alleged state collusion. The settlement, which concluded an 11-year legal process, is believed to be one of the largest payouts in a Troubles-related case.
In 2020, the High Court ruled that the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) had failed to conduct an adequate investigation into the attack. The victims sued on the grounds of state collusion, asserting that the perpetrators were protected rather than prosecuted.
Patrick Gribben, one of the individuals injured in the attack, stated that the shooting continues to cause him nightmares, describing it as an experience from which one does not recover. John McAvoy, another survivor, viewed the settlement as a victory but acknowledged that compensation does not alter the past or bring the perpetrators to justice.
Solicitor Gavin Booth characterized the settlement as a “proper acknowledgement of the pain and trauma caused.” He further alleged that the killers were “protected by the state and never brought to justice” instead of facing prosecution.
Sinn Féin MP Chris Hazzard commented on the outcome, calling it a positive development but expressing a preference for seeing the perpetrators held accountable in court. The civil case's resolution after more than a decade highlights the protracted nature of legal proceedings in these matters.