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| Loughinisland: A night watching a World Cup match that ended in terror | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The Heights Bar in the village of Loughinisland is the kind of tiny rural pub that peppered the countryside across Northern Ireland. | The Heights Bar in the village of Loughinisland is the kind of tiny rural pub that peppered the countryside across Northern Ireland. |
| On 18 June 1994, a few regulars had just finished watching the Republic of Ireland's footballers beat Italy in the World Cup. | On 18 June 1994, a few regulars had just finished watching the Republic of Ireland's footballers beat Italy in the World Cup. |
| Just after 22:00 BST, two gunmen from the loyalist Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), one armed with an AK47 and the other with a Czech-made rifle, walked inside and began firing indiscriminately. | Just after 22:00 BST, two gunmen from the loyalist Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), one armed with an AK47 and the other with a Czech-made rifle, walked inside and began firing indiscriminately. |
| Six men were killed instantly. | Six men were killed instantly. |
| They were 34-year-old Adrian Rogan, Malcolm Jenkinson, 53, Barney Green, 87, Daniel McCreanor, 59, Patrick O'Hare, 35, and Eamon Byrne, 39. | They were 34-year-old Adrian Rogan, Malcolm Jenkinson, 53, Barney Green, 87, Daniel McCreanor, 59, Patrick O'Hare, 35, and Eamon Byrne, 39. |
| All were Catholic civilians. Mr Green was one of the oldest people to be killed in the Northern Ireland Troubles. | All were Catholic civilians. Mr Green was one of the oldest people to be killed in the Northern Ireland Troubles. |
| Witnesses said that the killers laughed as they ran to their getaway car. | Witnesses said that the killers laughed as they ran to their getaway car. |
| In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the brother of the bar owner described how the dead were "piled on top of each other". | In the immediate aftermath of the shooting, the brother of the bar owner described how the dead were "piled on top of each other". |
| "We are still in a state of complete numbness. My head is just saturated with the thought of it all. My feelings for these poor families," Keiron O'Toole said. | "We are still in a state of complete numbness. My head is just saturated with the thought of it all. My feelings for these poor families," Keiron O'Toole said. |
| He also rubbished claims by the UVF that the bar had been hosting a republican meeting. | He also rubbished claims by the UVF that the bar had been hosting a republican meeting. |
| Explanation | Explanation |
| "That is absolute nonsense. This was a mixed pub, Protestant and Catholic came in, no-one cared what religion they were. | "That is absolute nonsense. This was a mixed pub, Protestant and Catholic came in, no-one cared what religion they were. |
| "There was just a complete attempt to kill Catholics and who ever else happened to be in the bar among them." | "There was just a complete attempt to kill Catholics and who ever else happened to be in the bar among them." |
| The UVF's explanation for the attack was also dismissed angrily by unionist politicians. | The UVF's explanation for the attack was also dismissed angrily by unionist politicians. |
| "Obviously these people are psychopaths - nothing short of it," an Ulster Unionist councillor said. | "Obviously these people are psychopaths - nothing short of it," an Ulster Unionist councillor said. |
| "I feel shocked and disgusted to think that these people call themselves loyalists." | "I feel shocked and disgusted to think that these people call themselves loyalists." |
| Senior police officers had their own views on the reason for the murders - a random sectarian attack in response to other killings. | Senior police officers had their own views on the reason for the murders - a random sectarian attack in response to other killings. |
| Two days previously, republican terror group the Irish National Liberation Army had killed three UVF members in Belfast. | Two days previously, republican terror group the Irish National Liberation Army had killed three UVF members in Belfast. |
| The following day, the UVF responded by killing a Catholic taxi driver and later two Protestants, they believed to be Catholic. | The following day, the UVF responded by killing a Catholic taxi driver and later two Protestants, they believed to be Catholic. |
| They then turned their attention to the County Down bar. | They then turned their attention to the County Down bar. |
| No-one has ever been convicted over the Loughinisland attack and the families of those who died became concerned about the investigation. | No-one has ever been convicted over the Loughinisland attack and the families of those who died became concerned about the investigation. |
| In 2006, they lodged an official complaint with the police ombudsman, who has the power to investigate the actions of police in Northern Ireland throughout the Troubles. | In 2006, they lodged an official complaint with the police ombudsman, who has the power to investigate the actions of police in Northern Ireland throughout the Troubles. |
| The families said they were prompted by revelations that linked the gang with at least one person who was an agent of the security forces. | The families said they were prompted by revelations that linked the gang with at least one person who was an agent of the security forces. |
| They were also concerned that the getaway car used by the killers was destroyed by police ten months after the shootings and not retained for evidential purposes. | They were also concerned that the getaway car used by the killers was destroyed by police ten months after the shootings and not retained for evidential purposes. |
| The ombudsman's report has been delayed on several occasions. | The ombudsman's report has been delayed on several occasions. |
| It had been scheduled for publication in 2009, but was postponed after new material came forward. | It had been scheduled for publication in 2009, but was postponed after new material came forward. |
| Relatives of those who died were strongly critical of the original ombudsman report when it was finally published in 2011. | Relatives of those who died were strongly critical of the original ombudsman report when it was finally published in 2011. |
| It found that the police did not properly investigate the killings but said there was no evidence of collusion between police and the UVF paramilitaries who carried out the attack. | It found that the police did not properly investigate the killings but said there was no evidence of collusion between police and the UVF paramilitaries who carried out the attack. |
| The report's findings were later quashed by Belfast High Court and a fresh investigation was opened by the ombudsman. | The report's findings were later quashed by Belfast High Court and a fresh investigation was opened by the ombudsman. |
| In 2014, one of the survivors, Colm Smyth, called on those responsible to come forward. | In 2014, one of the survivors, Colm Smyth, called on those responsible to come forward. |
| A police reservist was arrested and questioned over perverting the course of justice and withholding information in 2010. | A police reservist was arrested and questioned over perverting the course of justice and withholding information in 2010. |
| After considering the charges against him, the Public Prosecution Service said there was insufficient evidence and it would not be proceeding with a court case. | After considering the charges against him, the Public Prosecution Service said there was insufficient evidence and it would not be proceeding with a court case. |