The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has paid undisclosed damages to the relatives of four Catholics murdered in County Tyrone in 1992. The settlement comes after families of Charles and Teresa Fox, and Kevin and John McKearney sued the police, alleging the involvement of state agents in the killings.
Charles and Teresa Fox, aged 63 and 54, were shot dead in their home on September 6, 1992. Their bodies were discovered the following morning by two of their six children. Kevin McKearney, a father of four, was killed on January 3, 1992, when a gunman entered his family's butcher shop in Moy. His 68-year-old uncle, John McKearney, who was wounded in the same attack, died three months later.
Kevin McKearney's widow, Bernie, expressed that while the settlement is "nice," she feels "nobody is ever going to be held accountable" and that "justice" will not be achieved. Their solicitor, Gavin Booth, described the damages as "significant" and confirmed the PSNI would also cover all costs.
During the High Court proceedings in Belfast, Mr. Justice Rooney expressed hope that the settlement would provide "some closure" for the families of the "brutally murdered" victims, acknowledging the immense pain and suffering they have endured.
Previous calls for a public inquiry into the murders, suggested by a coroner as the best way forward, have been rejected by the government. The inquests were halted two years ago due to the non-disclosure of sensitive intelligence information.
Relatives have stated that the settlement is not the end of their pursuit for information, particularly regarding the withheld intelligence. However, they acknowledge that the full details may never be released, as doing so could be deemed damaging. The families also pursued action against the Ministry of Defence, which has since been discontinued.
Solicitor Gavin Booth urged the Secretary of State to either allow the inquests to proceed or to order a public inquiry, emphasizing that "today is a step forward."