Justice minister says ‘not for me to call for public inquiry’ into Kingsmill

Stormont’s Justice Minister has cautioned against the need for a public inquiry into the Kingsmill Massacre, but was not ruling anything out.

Naomi Long said she was wary of putting families and victims “through a series of hoops” but added that a public inquiry would “of course” be pursued if other probes yielded “gaps” in understanding.

Ten Protestant men were shot dead outside the village of Kingsmill in Co Armagh in January 1976 when republican gunmen posing as British soldiers ordered them off a minibus on their way home from work.

The Police Ombudsman’s report into the Kingsmill Massacre, published on Tuesday, identified a series of failings in the original police investigation of the IRA atrocity, including a “wholly insufficient” deployment of resources.

In the Stormont Assembly, Mrs Long was asked by SDLP MLA Justin McNulty whether she would petition for a public inquiry into Kingsmill.

“It is not for me to call for public inquiries at this point in time,” she replied.

“There has been an extensive investigation by the Police Ombudsman.

“I think that it is important that we take the time to read that report, to reflect on that report, and then to look carefully at what might be gained by further investigation and further work in that space.

“If there are gaps in the understanding as a result of any of these investigations, then of course, we would want to pursue that.

“But we also need to be clear that simply calling for public inquiry on public inquiry on public inquiry will not necessarily get us a clearer picture if all of the avenues of investigation have already been exhausted.

“I am wary of putting families, victims and survivors through a series of hoops that will, in the end, not bring them the satisfaction that they so desperately want and the truth that they so desperately need.

“But I am certainly not ruling anything in or out at this early stage.”

The Justice Minister also paid tribute to the sole survivor of Kingsmill, Alan Black, now aged in his early 80s, who was shot 18 times.

“What he suffered is unimaginable,” she said. “He has been an incredible champion, albeit quietly, for those who lost their lives and who suffered loss and so I want to pay tribute to him.”

Alliance MP Sorcha Eastwood also paid tribute to Mr Black’s “unbelievable strength” and said he had “rightly” criticised the length of time it has taken to produce the report.

“Clearly, he and the families feel let down as they come to terms with the findings of today’s report,” she said.

“This further reinforces the need for a fully comprehensive and victim-centred process for dealing with the past, so victims, survivors and their loved ones can receive the truth and justice they deserve.”

Joanne Bunting, chairwoman of the Assembly’s Justice Committee and DUP MLA for East Belfast, said that those who “dithered and delayed along the pathway to truth … have a lot to answer for”.

“Those murdered in this blatantly sectarian attack, along with Alan who only survived by God’s grace, deserved a full and proper investigation.

“They were denied this, and the perpetrators allowed to evade the justice they deserved to face for their heinous crimes.”

Irish premier Micheal Martin said the attack at Kingsmill was “an appalling, sectarian mass murder in which 10 people were brutally killed”.

“Today, on the presentation of the report of the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland into the police investigation to the families of victims, I think of all those killed in the attack, and of Alan Black, the sole survivor.

“It is quite shocking that the perpetrators of this heinous crime have still not been held accountable.

“I call on anyone who may have knowledge of the attack, even at this late stage, to contact the authorities.

“I hope that the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland’s report today provides some answers to questions which the families have in their long search for truth and justice for their loved ones.

“It is also a reminder of the pressing need for a comprehensive legacy framework to provide adequate mechanisms for justice and truth that meet the legitimate expectations of victims’ families.”