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Greysteel remembers murder victims 20 years on Greysteel attack united community, priest tells memorial service
(35 minutes later)
A remembrance service has been held in Greysteel, County Londonderry, 20 years after eight people were murdered at the Rising Sun bar.A remembrance service has been held in Greysteel, County Londonderry, 20 years after eight people were murdered at the Rising Sun bar.
The hour-long service took place in the Star of the Sea church in the village.The hour-long service took place in the Star of the Sea church in the village.
A number of Protestant ministers attended the anniversary mass. A priest said that the attack had united, not divided, the community.
Two gunmen from the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) opened fire on the Rising Sun bar on 30 October, 1993. They shot dead seven people and another man later died of his injuries. Two gunmen from the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) opened fire on the bar on 30 October, 1993. They shot dead seven people and another man later died of his injuries.
At first, customers thought it was a Halloween prank as the gunmen shouted "trick or treat" before opening fire.At first, customers thought it was a Halloween prank as the gunmen shouted "trick or treat" before opening fire.
The eight people who died were John Burns, Moira Duddy, Joe McDermott, Victor Montgomery, James Moore, John Moyne, Stephen Mullan, and Karen Thompson.The eight people who died were John Burns, Moira Duddy, Joe McDermott, Victor Montgomery, James Moore, John Moyne, Stephen Mullan, and Karen Thompson.
Father Noel McDermott told the memorial service that the attack had united the community. Homily
He said: "Far from driving a wedge in our community that horrific event, in fact, had the opposite effect, bringing us all closer together as brothers and sisters in Christ." A number of Protestant ministers attended the anniversary mass.
The attack followed an IRA bombing on the Shankill Road in west Belfast just days earlier, in which 10 people, including one of the bombers, were killed. Father Patrick Mullan told the congregation: "Far from driving a wedge in our community that horrific event, in fact, had the opposite effect, bringing us all closer together as brothers and sisters in Christ."
A homily was given by Fr Stephen Kearney, who was a priest in Greysteel at the time of the massacre and was one of the first people on the scene.
He paid tribute to the victims, and said that rather than seeking revenge, or justice, for the killings, they had used their pain in a way that gave comfort to others.
The church service was followed by a short cross-community service at the memorial to the dead close to the bar.
Prayers were said and the names of the victims were read out.
After that service some people attended a reception in the Rising Sun bar.
The 1993 attack followed an IRA bombing on the Shankill Road in west Belfast just days earlier, in which 10 people, including one of the bombers, were killed.
Torrens Knight was given 12 life sentences for the Greysteel massacre and the separate murder of four workmen in Castlerock, both carried out by the loyalist UFF.Torrens Knight was given 12 life sentences for the Greysteel massacre and the separate murder of four workmen in Castlerock, both carried out by the loyalist UFF.
Four other UFF men were also given eight life sentences for the murders.Four other UFF men were also given eight life sentences for the murders.
'Healing mechanisms''Healing mechanisms'
One of those who died in the attack was 59-year-old mother of five, Moira Duddy.One of those who died in the attack was 59-year-old mother of five, Moira Duddy.
Martin Duddy, Moira's son, told the BBC that staying strong through prayer is the only option.Martin Duddy, Moira's son, told the BBC that staying strong through prayer is the only option.
"My mother was dedicated to her family. She was shy but caring and a loving woman."My mother was dedicated to her family. She was shy but caring and a loving woman.
"We have our own healing mechanisms and we have kept together. We have to."We have our own healing mechanisms and we have kept together. We have to.
"At the time it was total shock and disbelief but we are a good family unit."At the time it was total shock and disbelief but we are a good family unit.
"We haven't really talked about the anniversary. We have our own thoughts and let it be. We are in a better Northern Ireland and I hope we have lasting peace here and that everyone can talk together."We haven't really talked about the anniversary. We have our own thoughts and let it be. We are in a better Northern Ireland and I hope we have lasting peace here and that everyone can talk together.
"I can't really think about those who carried out this atrocity. I look on the good and thankfully for the next generation we are living in a better Northern Ireland.""I can't really think about those who carried out this atrocity. I look on the good and thankfully for the next generation we are living in a better Northern Ireland."
'Absolutely frantic''Absolutely frantic'
Adrian McAuley was a paramedic on duty the night of the killings. He said the anniversary was poignant.Adrian McAuley was a paramedic on duty the night of the killings. He said the anniversary was poignant.
"We came back to our base when we got a call to go to the Rising Sun bar to a shooting," he said."We came back to our base when we got a call to go to the Rising Sun bar to a shooting," he said.
"We turned off the main road and there were about 20 or 30 people outside the bar. They were absolutely frantic, waving their arms in shock."We turned off the main road and there were about 20 or 30 people outside the bar. They were absolutely frantic, waving their arms in shock.
"I saw people shot and wounded lying on the floor and slumped in their seats."I saw people shot and wounded lying on the floor and slumped in their seats.
"The sound of crying and screaming was overwhelming.""The sound of crying and screaming was overwhelming."
Mr McAuley said he had to bring in extra resources to deal with the incident.Mr McAuley said he had to bring in extra resources to deal with the incident.
"Shootings were nothing new to the ambulance service, but this was on a scale that I had never seen before," he said."Shootings were nothing new to the ambulance service, but this was on a scale that I had never seen before," he said.
"Your job at the time is about treatment and transport so you didn't really get time to think about it."Your job at the time is about treatment and transport so you didn't really get time to think about it.
"That first sight mixed with the smell of gun smoke will never leave me.""That first sight mixed with the smell of gun smoke will never leave me."
Fr Stephen Kearney, local priest at the time, said: "Pictures flash in my mind now and again of people standing around and the rosary being said.
"It created an opportunity for the people of Greysteel to get to know each other and former SDLP leader John Hume put that message across greatly.
"We had a walk with candles afterwards and the whole theme of that day was about walking together.
"It was a vile deed done by men who brought hatred to their hearts."