Assembly urges Police Ombudsman to release Kingsmill report

Stormont’s main political parties have universally urged the Police Ombudsman to release a report into its investigation of the Kingsmill massacre.

It follows the conclusion of a long-running inquest into the killing of 10 Protestant workmen at Kingsmill in Co Armagh in 1976.

The atrocity, which was one of the most notorious of the Troubles, saw the 10 workmen killed when their minibus was ambushed by a gang of at least 12 men posing as British soldiers.

In April, following the inquest, a coroner ruled that the shooting was an “overtly sectarian attack by the IRA”.

No-one has ever been convicted of the murders, which the Provisional IRA denied.

Introducing a motion to the Northern Ireland Assembly on Monday, DUP MLA Joanne Bunting called on the Police Ombudsman to release its report into the massacre.

Ms Bunting said she was supporting the attack’s sole survivor Alan Black and other campaigners, including the family of John McConville – who was killed in the massacre.

Mr Black, 81, has described himself as being in poor health and said he fears he will go to his grave before finding out answers he has campaigned decades for.

He has sought the publication of the Police Ombudsman report but is continuing to wait.

Ms Bunting, chairwoman of the Justice Committee, said the DUP was supporting the families in their pursuit of justice.

She said: “The Kingsmill massacre was one of the most horrific and blatantly sectarian atrocities in our history.

“The brutal murder of 10 innocent Protestant workmen by the IRA on January 5 1976 remains a painful reminder of the hatred that fuelled terrorism and robbed so many of their futures.

“That some in high office suggest that there was no alternative to such sectarian murder is utterly repugnant.”

Ms Bunting said it was “appalling” that the families were fighting statutory bodies in their search for truth as she accused the Police Ombudsman of withholding a report into the atrocity.

The Ombudsman has previously said it would be published before May 1 2025.

Ms Bunting said it is “cruel” that the report has not been provided to families, adding: “This is no way to treat innocent victims, it is shameful.”

She said: “Why the hold-up? Why are they not handing it over? These families are entitled to the information and are entitled to the report expeditiously – they’ve been through enough.”

Ms Bunting said recent Government decisions on legacy issues have perpetuated a hierarchy which suggests “some murders are more deserving of investigation than others”.

“Kingsmill offers the Government the chance to address this imbalance and show genuine support for victims seeking truth and transparency,” she said.

Ms Bunting also accused the Republic of Ireland’s Government and An Garda Siochana of “weak and obfuscatory” disclosure over the matter.

Sinn Fein MLA Linda Dillon said the party was supporting the motion.

She said: “We have repeatedly called for a human-rights compliant approach to legacy cases and issues for all conflict-related incidents.”

Ms Dillon added: “All victims and survivors and their families are entitled to receive truth and justice irrespective of the circumstances surrounding the death or serious injury; irrespective of their political or religious persuasion; irrespective of which organisation or individual was responsible.”

Representatives from the UUP, Alliance, SDLP, TUV, and People Before Profit also said they were supporting the motion, which passed on Monday evening.

The Police Ombudsman said it is committed to providing Mr Black and the Kingsmill families with its findings as soon as it possibly can.

A spokesman said: “Our investigation is complete and we are currently drafting our conclusions.

“Once ready, these will be provided without delay.

“We are also continuing to work towards concluding a broad range of other cases by April 30 2025, as required following the enactment of the Northern Ireland Troubles (Legacy and Reconciliation) Act 2023.