This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-48776194
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 1 | Version 2 |
---|---|
Lisnaskea woman speaks of three brothers killed by IRA | Lisnaskea woman speaks of three brothers killed by IRA |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A woman whose three brothers were killed by the IRA has spoken for the first time of how their deaths were a "complete disaster" for her family. | A woman whose three brothers were killed by the IRA has spoken for the first time of how their deaths were a "complete disaster" for her family. |
Ronnie, Cecil and Jimmy Graham were all shot dead in separate attacks in County Fermanagh in the 1980s. | Ronnie, Cecil and Jimmy Graham were all shot dead in separate attacks in County Fermanagh in the 1980s. |
They were all part-time members of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR). | They were all part-time members of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR). |
Pam Morrison is the only surviving member of their family and told BBC News NI about the effect of their deaths on the Lisnaskea family. | Pam Morrison is the only surviving member of their family and told BBC News NI about the effect of their deaths on the Lisnaskea family. |
The UDR was an infantry regiment of the the British Army, created in 1970. | |
Ambushed while off duty | Ambushed while off duty |
The Grahams first encountered tragedy in 1979 when Pam's 27-year-old sister Hilary - also a UDR member - died years after being hit by a car while manning a checkpoint. | The Grahams first encountered tragedy in 1979 when Pam's 27-year-old sister Hilary - also a UDR member - died years after being hit by a car while manning a checkpoint. |
Within six years, three other members of the family were shot dead by the IRA. | |
All three were off duty when they were attacked. | |
In June 1981, Lance Corporal Ronnie Graham, 39, was killed when he was ambushed while delivering groceries for a local shop. | In June 1981, Lance Corporal Ronnie Graham, 39, was killed when he was ambushed while delivering groceries for a local shop. |
He was married and had two children. | He was married and had two children. |
Five months later, another brother Pte Cecil Graham, 32, died two days after he was shot as he visited the family home of his wife and five-week-old son. | Five months later, another brother Pte Cecil Graham, 32, died two days after he was shot as he visited the family home of his wife and five-week-old son. |
In 1985, Pte Jimmy Graham, 39, was killed while driving a school bus in Derrylin. | In 1985, Pte Jimmy Graham, 39, was killed while driving a school bus in Derrylin. |
He was married and had two children, aged 11 and 15. | He was married and had two children, aged 11 and 15. |
'Lonely without them' | 'Lonely without them' |
None of the people who carried out the killings have been convicted. | |
Mrs Morrison said it was lonely being the only family member left. | Mrs Morrison said it was lonely being the only family member left. |
"You didn't know where to turn, who to talk to or anything else," she said. | "You didn't know where to turn, who to talk to or anything else," she said. |
"It was... really devastating for the family and to their wives and to the youngsters that they left behind." | "It was... really devastating for the family and to their wives and to the youngsters that they left behind." |
Ms Morrison remembers the deaths "as if they happened yesterday" and her father was left a "heartbroken man". | Ms Morrison remembers the deaths "as if they happened yesterday" and her father was left a "heartbroken man". |
"That memory is always with you and the older you get the more you want your family. | "That memory is always with you and the older you get the more you want your family. |
Explaining why her family never spoke publicly about the killings, she said: "I just kept it all to myself. | Explaining why her family never spoke publicly about the killings, she said: "I just kept it all to myself. |
"You kept going on from day to day and that was it." | "You kept going on from day to day and that was it." |
She finally decided to speak about her family's loss because she was its last surviving member. | She finally decided to speak about her family's loss because she was its last surviving member. |
"Who else is going to remember them unless I say something about it," she said. | "Who else is going to remember them unless I say something about it," she said. |
'I never understood why' | 'I never understood why' |
The conflict in Northern Ireland - known as the Troubles - lasted for 30 years and about 3,600 people were killed while thousands more were injured. | The conflict in Northern Ireland - known as the Troubles - lasted for 30 years and about 3,600 people were killed while thousands more were injured. |
The majority of the violence was carried out by republican and loyalist paramilitaries. | The majority of the violence was carried out by republican and loyalist paramilitaries. |
The security forces were responsible for about 10% of the 3,500-plus deaths. | The security forces were responsible for about 10% of the 3,500-plus deaths. |
While Mrs Morrison said all of those who had lost loved ones during the Troubles deserved justice, she seemed resigned to the feeling that no-one would ever face trial for her brothers' murders. | While Mrs Morrison said all of those who had lost loved ones during the Troubles deserved justice, she seemed resigned to the feeling that no-one would ever face trial for her brothers' murders. |
"It's your faith that carries you through that and you don't want the like of that to happen [to] any other family," she said. | |
"Retaliation is not going to be any good to anyone - it's just going to leave more hurt in the community." | "Retaliation is not going to be any good to anyone - it's just going to leave more hurt in the community." |
Mrs Morrison also said she still wonders why her family were targeted. | Mrs Morrison also said she still wonders why her family were targeted. |
"I just could never understand why it was the one family that was targeted so much." | "I just could never understand why it was the one family that was targeted so much." |