Tyrone Republicans remember Cappagh shooting victims

On Wednesday evening, several hundred Tyrone Republicans assembled on Cappagh Main Street to commemorate the lives of John Quinn, Malcolm Nugent, Dwayne O Donnell and Tommy Armstrong.

The 4 men were killed in a UVF gun attack at Boyles bar, Cappagh on 3rd March 1991. John, Dwayne and Malcolm were members of the IRA and for the past 20 years the finger of suspicion has pointed towards collusion between Loyalists and Crown forces, culminating in the attack.



During the torchlight ceremony, which was chaired by local Republican, Paul Kelly, a wreath was laid on behalf of the Republican Movement by a friend and comrade of the men, Brendan Kane.

There were a lot of young people present and Ógra Shinn Féin provided the Colour Party at the Republican Monument in Cappagh.

In his opening remarks, Paul said 'Over the past 30 years, the community of Cappagh and Galbally has suffered greatly at the hands of Crown forces acting officially, and in collusion with Loyalist murder gangs.

'Although it has been 20 years since the killing of Dwayne, John, Malcolm and Tommy for most of us, it seems like just yesterday. It is extremely important for their families to know that we will never forget them and that they are forever in our thoughts and prayers.

The main speaker for the evening was MP for the constituency, Martin Mc Guinness.
During his address, the Deputy First Minister called for an independent, international truth commission to investigate the circumstances of the Cappagh shooting, especially given the strong belief of state collusion in the murders. He said that 'The shootings at Cappagh 20 years ago are a stark reminder of the brutal nature of Britain's role in Ireland.

Mr Mc Guinness continued 'I am proud to be an Irish Republican and to be a member of Sinn Féin, which is the only political party committed to pursuing the objective of Irish re unification.

'As a politician, I also have a duty to ensure that another generation of young people do not find themselves imprisoned or going to an early grave in pursuit of this objective.

'I want to re-emphasise to the families of those who have died that they have our full and never ending support and solidarity'.

The torchlight ceremony concluded with the playing of Amhran Na bhFiann on the fiddle by Coalisland Ógra activist Álanna Campbell, while proceedings continued in Galbally Community Centre with a talk from JJ Magee from Relatives for Justice and Francie Molloy MLA on the lives of the 4 men and the circumstances surrounding their deaths.