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18 JUNE 1994 was meant to be a triumphant day for Ireland. Its football team beat Italy, thanks to a sumptuous Ray Houghton goal in a sun-soaked Giants Stadium in New York.
A nation celebrated watching the ball loop over the Italian goalie within the first 15 minutes, and the 75 minutes of heroic defending that followed. Paul McGrath in particular was immense, as he blocked every piece of Italian trickery that came his way.
On that same day, members of the Ulster Volunteer Force burst into a Co Down pub and started shooting. Six people died, and five were injured.
The pub in Loughinisland was chosen because it was mainly frequented by Catholics, supporters of the Republic of Ireland national team.
For decades, the family of the victims have sought justice, alleging that the crime was covered up and that police colluded with the perpetrators. No one has ever been charged with the murders.
Now, a new documentary reveals startling details about the shooting, including information from the wife of one of the suspects who turned him in three times.
From Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney, No Stone Unturned also hears from the families of the victims, and from solicitor Niall Murphy who’s spent much of his career trying to get justice for them.
Collusion
Murphy told TheJournal.ie that “at every stage and at every level”, the families of the victims have been confronted with “negativity and hurt”.
He said that the families were ignored at first and had to fight every step of the way to even get the issue looked at properly by the proper authorities.
“For years they had no legal recourse to what was essentially a massacre,” he said. “They had no evidence at first. So they engaged with the Police Ombudsman, engaged with senior police, and it became very apparent very quickly that their worst fears were confirmed.”
Murphy took on their case in 2005, but it took another 11 years for the authorities to provide a definitive take on the massacre.
A damning report from the Police Ombudsman, published in June last year, “unambiguously determined” that there was collusion between the Loughinisland murderers and the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC).
It went on: “My conclusion is that the initial investigation into the murders at Loughinisland was characterised in too many instances by incompetence, indifference and neglect.”
Speaking to Dave Fanning on RTÉ last week, filmmaker Gibney said it was “just staggering to believe they couldn’t bring anybody to justice”.
Bringing the story to life
The documentary argues that the evidence shows that RUC officers colluded to help the suspects evade justice, in return for information on the goings-on in loyalist circles.
With the legal avenues yielding nothing substantial for the families by in 2012, Murphy contacted colleagues in the film industry to try to get more recognition for the issue.
“The families felt that there’d been no recognition for the collusion that was uncovered,” he said.
At the time, doors were shut. It’d been a whitewash. At the time we weren’t getting an Ombudsman report. I felt this needed to be considered internationally… that a State would permit murder to protect its intelligence agenda.
To that end, Murphy linked with Trevor Birney from production company Below The Radar, and Irish News journalist Barry McCaffrey to work on a documentary about Loughinisland.
“So it would be a two-pronged strategy,” he said. “I pursued the legal angles, and they pursued the journalistic angles.”
The project got the green light from ESPN, as part of their 30 for 30 series. “They wanted docs on how sport transcends into societal issues,” Murphy said.
The result was a 22-minute long documentary called Ceasefire Massacre and stands along other documentaries made in the series about the Hillsborough disaster, and Argentinian footballer Ossie Ardiles going to play for Tottenham during the Falklands War.
Feature film
Although that film focused on the football aspects of the tragedy, it hints at the collusion involved in the last few minutes and it was this that piqued the interest of Oscar-winning filmmaker Alex Gibney.
He won the Academy Award for best documentary in 2007 for Taxi to the Dark Side but has also directed documentaries about Wikileaks, Lance Armstrong and Steve Jobs.
Murphy said: “He was enthralled by the concept of collusion. He could understand the international resonance.
The families were delighted with Ceasefire Massacre, but they could see it could go further. Gibney was very passionate about making a feature-length documentary.
The result is No Stone Unturned, which provides a comprehensive look at the event itself and the fallout that came afterwards. It has faced legal battles to even make it to screen, with the film’s premiere being pulled from New York’s Tribeca Film Festival earlier in the year. It has, however, been cleared to be shown in the UK and Ireland.
“This is required viewing,” Murphy said. “It is a significant contribution to this debate. All Irish football fans… all Irish people should watch this film.”
As the suspects are named in the film, the PSNI is investigating how it came to be that sensitive, confidential documents were used in the documentary.
Murphy said that the PSNI would be better served properly investigating the Loughinisland massacre instead.
Emma Rogan, speaking on behalf of the families, said: “The families first concern is for the perpetrators to be brought to justice. But the PSNI statements provides us with a cruel insight into their priorities: Their only investigative action arising from the film, and the work of journalist and lawyers to expose the truth, is an allegation of theft against the filmmakers. It’s stunning and disgraceful in equal measure.”
Irish football’s tribute
Speaking on the eve of another crucial game for Irish football, Murphy said this only emphasised the tragedy and poignancy of what happened at Loughinisland.
“I must say the FAI really went above and beyond for these families in the past,” he said.
In a quirk of fate, and a time when justice and vindication seemed very far away in 2011, the draw for Euro 2012 was made.
Ireland drew Italy in their group. And the date that game was scheduled for was 18 June, the same date of the massacre 18 years previously.
The families wrote to John Delaney, and the FAI sought to mark the event during the game in some way.
“And he delivered,” Murphy said. “The Irish team wore black armbands that day.”
On a day when Ireland’s World Cup fate again hangs in the balance, the families of those who died at Loughinisland will be reminded once again of the event that took their loved ones away and the fact that, 23 years later, those responsible have not yet been brought to justice.
No Stone Unturned is being shown at selected cinemas nationwide, including the Lighthouse Cinema, the Everyman Theatre in Cork and the IFI.
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The collusion could not be more obvious, a very well researched documentary by Alex Gibney!
@Jarlath Murphy: what collusion?
@frank sullivan: shut up Frank
@frank sullivan:
Frank, Frank, Frank….
Quit digging while you can still see the grass!
Educate yourself, watch the documentary and then come back to me…
Run along now son,
I remember it well. Thank you for the article, a sobering reminder of a dark time for our people. We have come a long way thanks to the work from all sides regarding peace and reconciliation.
PSNI still with the same attitude as their predecessors.
That’s a disgraceful lie.
@Jamie McCormack: In fairness, most of the issues with the PSNI are legacy based. It is a universe away from the despicable acts of the RUC.
@Diarmuid: then why do the Psni continue to sit on evidence, not question suspects, impede inquests and other legacy issues, such as the Glennane Gang? The Psni have destroyed vital evidence and files reading to many killings
@Jamie McCormack: yes
@Paul Devlin: Only a few weeks ago the PSNI were ruled in the High Court of breaching the Human Rights of the families of the Glenanne Gang’s victims and ruled that they had wilfully frustrated “any possibility of an effective investigation” into the Glenanne Gang. It also ruled that they must meet with the families within six weeks. That was in July. They still haven’t even done that.
@Tír Eoghain Gael: there is stretching the truth and then their is your rant
@frank sullivan: * there
@Paul Devlin: Exactly. A name change means nothing when the same spooks are pulling the usual strings.
@Diarmuid: You do realise that the worst is yet to come?
@Diarmuid: living in the 6counties?
@frank sullivan: Anything more creative to say, other than name calling?
@frank sullivan: that’s proven fact. The families were beck in court again this week add the Psni still haven’t complied with the court ruling. What is wrong with you?
@frank sullivan: Well I am no Shinner and this film is deadly accurate in every detail .Also being close to that area it was know from the very beginning of this atrocity that some members of the RUC were colluding with the murderers ,and if you have seen the film it clearly shows their was literally tons of forensic evidence.But no interest in doing anything with it.
John Weir,former ruc sargeant,convicted uvf killer,Glennanne gang member is singing like a canary from his new home in Sth Africa and no-one from the Psni will pick up the phone and speak to him about the activities of the Glenanne gang.
@joe oneill: many SF/IRA sang on the boston tapes… same thing surely?
@frank sullivan: difference being the acknowledgement from the IRA that they carried out despicable crimes (intentional or not) while the RUC, British Army and the British government deny all their massacres of innocent civilians and ensure not one if their own spends a day in prison.
@Cal Mooney: SF/IRA have never assisted the police regarding all their massacres of innocent civilians and ensure not one if their own spends a day in prison.
@frank sullivan: NO
Clough is a wee village not very far from Loughinisland, some call it a black hole. A sign went up on the Dundrum road recently reading “Taigs Out”. The PSNI say they are treating it as a hate crime, yet it took them 5 days to remove the offensive display.
Temporary Restricted for unusual activity?
Please explain frank sullivan
@Christy Nolan: he loves stirring it
@Christy Nolan: I can explain Christy. ‘frank’ had an old account (one of dozens) called ‘james connolly’. Before that one got banned, he used it to make menacing comments towards me on here. Long story short, twitter are now flagging and restricting any new fake account he sets up the moment he does so.
It’s quite funny really.
@Christy Nolan: Frank is “Diarmuid”,a well known Est Belfast bigot,a bigot heading for 100 bannings from this site.Creepy as f##k,the wheel is spinning but the hamster has long left the cage.
@The Risen: Oh please please please give me your definition of menacing, i could do with a laugh?
Your obsession is certainly amusing, its like i occupy a permanent space in your head…. rent free :D
@joe oneill: Oh i do laugh at your stupidity. Ive never set foot in east belfast, or west belfast or any part of belfast. I hear its a bit of a hole?
Regardless, please continue your rant, i find it very amusing indeed PMSL
@Robc:?
@The Risen: ah the plot thickens, or is it the guy in it?
@joe oneill: in other words he’s a LANGER
One of many disgusting acts committed by absolute animals on both sides.
@frank sullivan: only animals on one side had help and assistance from the RUC, the British Army and the British Government though. A very important difference that needs to be acknowledged.
@frank sullivan: This is about RUC collusion with loyalists terrorists targeting innocent Catholics.
@frank sullivan: animals ran by British security services
Oh sorry i forgot there are only one group of victims… jesus wept
@frank sullivan: how was this committed by both sides?
@frank sullivan: it’s is the collusion with the RUC that makes this act even more despicable
@Liam Mullane: collusion was on both sides also. smitwick tribunal?
@Daithí Uí Ciarmhaic: not supposed to say that here, very sensitive ears, selective memories, and lots of West brit attitude
@billy Dorney: West Brit… oh that old chestnut LOL
@frank sullivan: yes, of course, maybe you don’t like the truth?
@billy Dorney: i love the truth, that is why i only ever speak the truth. You should try it sometime.
@Elizabeth Gregory: Utter nonsense. You are aware that RUC special branch colluded with Republican informants by allowing IRA murders including against regular RUC officers in order to protect Republican informants? Republicans like to portray themselves as having special victim status to distract from their own heinous acts of savagery.
@AR Devine: @AR Devine….definitely nothing divine about you. ‘Special victim status’…..absolutely abhorrent description of ordinary men, women and children fighting back against a government led apartheid regime.
It seems incredible that the PSNI would come out with that statement when people have been named as the perpetrators. Priorities are all wrong.
@Jane: Always have been Jane, a dirty war has been at play for a long time.
@Jamie McCormack: but it’s even shocking on a PR level that they’d make such a statement. They’re not even trying to look impartial.
If the troll accounts on here can debunk the findings of collusion and deliberate attempts to impede the investigation then let’s hear it.
@Ciaran Rice: You won’t hear it mate.
@Jamie McCormack: well it’s been four hours now so I guess you’re right. Now they’re trying to justify and excuse innocent people on Bloody Sunday being shot in the back.
The entity that is called Northern Ireland was created by the collusion of the biggest and most powerful armed force of the time with a coalition of Unionist, West Brits , and Tories . It was maintained later by an armed local police force RUC, and militia ( Specilas UDR etc that could draw on the ” mainland British army “for support to maintain an undemocratic discriminatory unionist controlled state.
Whether John Bruton or his ilk will accept it or not The British Empire only negotiated when it had to and this was only after force or the threat of force. Unfortunately if the IRA campaign has not happened in the North they would be still be discussing the disbandment of the B specials, and they in turn with the RUC would still be keeping the Taigs in their place. Sad but true.
Bye Tommy, a minute in a forum with a West brit langsr of a plastic paddy is enough time wasted
@billy Dorney: who’s tommy?
‘Langsr’ – Template {{lang-sr}} indicates to readers the original form of a term or phrase in Serbian language. The term or phrase is the only mandatory parameter.
Hopefully there will be a bright new dawn of reconciliation and peace in Northern Ireland in the future.
The wrongdoings of all sides need to be laid to rest in order for N.Ireland to move on. It is important to note that the RUC special branch also colluded with republicans by allowing some atrocities they knew were going to occur to go ahead to evade their IRA informants being suspected. They even allowed regular RUC members to be murdered by the IRA. It was a dirty conflict. All sides committed atrocities but republican terrorists like to act is if they were the only ones & their wrongs were justified when they & the loyalist terrorists commited the worst acts of the troubles.
@AR Devine: AR your an intelligent person, I can see it in your comments. You need to step beyond your party loyalty and see Dennison “appalling vista” which kept the Birmingham Six incarcerated.
@AR Devine: all Terrorists need to be incarcerated for crimes against humanity. All the Vile murders on all sides needs some sort of justice for the innocent people of these atrocities, very hard to move on when justice was never served….
Loyal terrorists groups where far more like to be prosecuted for terrorism then republicans . Over 15000 loyalists and 23000 republicans where prosecuted . Republicans carry out 60 percent of terrorism .
@Tommy Whelan: perhaps ‘good’ republicans committed more crimes
@Tommy Whelan: if republicans carried out 60% of atrocities then your numbers are really spot on because out of the 38k prosecutions 60% of them are republican! Your numbers ya idiot!
@Tommy Whelan: How many British soldiers were jailed for murder and terrorism-related offences in Ireland?
@Jamie McCormack: taking a life doesn’t always amount to an act of murder . 195 of those kill by security forces where terrorists in the process of carrying out terrorism .
@Tommy Whelan: The security forces were stopping terrorism. There i corrected your mistake.
@frank sullivan: Tommy, explain your logic with regard to the Ballymurphy massacre and bloody Sunday killings.
@Paddy: poor, poor, poor Tommy, misses the barracks, and the closeness
@Tommy Whelan: dust off your uniform Tommy, you’re missed over there, not here
@Cal Mooney: exactly they were stopping terrorism in both instances.
@billy Dorney: poor shinners, isolated, alone, irrelavant. The icing on the cake is a hard border. I hope you enjoy it, i know i certainly will :D
@Cal Mooney: Bloody Sunday was a co ordinated attack by the IRA . The paras came under attack from both a hostile crowd and small arms fire . http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1382070/I-fired-shots-on-Bloody-Sunday-says-IRA-man.html
@Tommy Whelan: Christ Tommy. Im a staunch critic of the IRA & SF but you are talking nonsense here. Everyone knows the paras went on a killing spree against unarmed civilians that day. Cameron when PM apologised for it. Im very pro Britain but you are wrong in this regard.
@Tommy Whelan: Source please.
New documentary…??? This is years old.
@David Wright: I know but there is a match on hence the story
@David Wright: No it isn’t. This is a new feature length documentary which has only been released to cinemas this week and for the first time, names those believed to be behind the massacre.
@Tír Eoghain Gael: so its like the boston tapes so? names people who carried out atrocities?
@frank sullivan: The difference is the PSNI has tenaciously and determinedly fought the Boston University through the Courts in America and the UK, over several years to gain access to this confidential research information!
Yet they couldn’t be arsed to spend 10 mins to drive 5 miles to have a chat with the perpetrator of this foul deed!
Strange that?
@Jarlath Murphy: To be expected Jarlath, these boys have so many skeletons in the closet, maybe even enough to bring their establishment down.
@Jarlath Murphy: would need evidence for that to happen. if the evidence is produced then im sure the police would act. accusation and conviction are completely separate.
@frank sullivan: Suggest you watch the documentary so, they couldn’t throw a baton out the barracks window without hitting a piece of evidence!
In fact they probably injure themselves stumbling over the volumes of evidence without seeing any of it!
Quite an achievement really!
Bit like the Moriarty Report, it’s all there you just have to pursue it!
@Tír Eoghain Gael: yes it’s in the Cork film festival at the moment, ran today
@TonyF: Baron Adams is mentioned a lot.
@Jarlath Murphy: if there is any actual evidence beyond the usual baseless accusations i sure the authorities will act on it like they always do.
@frank sullivan: You sure your not in the PSNI?
You seem to have an incredible ability not to see what is in front of your face?
The point of the documentary is that an award winning documentary maker saw the story, thought it was incredulous that such evidence was available and yet not being pursued.
Thought it was worth pursuing, looked at it, found it extraordinary that in a so called modern western society evidence of a callous mass murder was being ignored, followed the bread crumbs and was with the minimum of effort able to identify the perpetrators!
If your unable to google the story, maybe ask your mum if she can take the parental lock off her tablet for you?
I wouldn’t take any notice of Frank, ashamed to be an O Sullivan. Sad.
You’d think this article might get the correct number killed. It was 6 not 5.
have your say