Tús maith leath na hoibre

Ógra Shinn Féin's Barry McNally recently spoke with Aiden McAnespies nephew and Ógra activist, Caolan Loughran following a statement of regret issued by the British Government about the death of Aiden over 20 years ago.

Aiden was shot dead while crossing through a British army checkpoint in Aughnacloy on his way to a football match at Agahloo GAA Grounds. The British army issued a statement shortly after the shooting claiming it was an accident and a ricochet. However the family have always maintained that he was shot deliberately after being harassed regularly by the British army in the border town.

Barry started off by asking Caolan about Aiden.

“I think it’s important to point out that whilst I was alive at the time of Aidens death I was young and so I don’t remember the events surrounding his death. However I have heard anecdotes and stories about Aidens character.

Aiden was a good fella, fond of a few drinks and socialising like any other young lad of the time. He had a large circle of friends in the local area and enjoyed meeting up with them particularly at the weekends. He was big into his football but apparently wasn’t too good when it came to playing it. He would often use the excuse that he was injured when approached about stepping on the football field.

I was Aiden's only godson and on days off work or at the weekends I would accompany Aiden in the car wherever he went. Aiden would be driving and I would be perched up in the passenger seat barely able to look over the dashboard.

But in addition to all of this he received very bad treatment at the hands of the British army. He was harassed and threatened many times. Whilst driving through the checkpoint his car would be pulled apart. Aiden was continually being harassed at the hands of the British army but he never yielded to them. For numerous people at that time the only option was to move south where they could escape the harassment and torture of the British army, but I suppose for Aiden that wasn’t an option. He wouldn’t be put out of his local town by foreign strangers.

(Above: Aiden McAnespies Car is stopped at Aughnacloy Checkpoint. It is unclear whether the man outside the car is Aiden or another one of the McAnespies)

It was probably due to his determination and fortitude that he became a ‘marked man’. He was threatened by death many times by the British army. These threats became more frequent closer to his death. On Sunday 21st February 1988 Aiden parked his car in Aughnacloy, a short distance from the checkpoint. It was common for him to do this as he got less harassment and would be held less if he simply walked through the checkpoint. He was going to a Gaelic football match at the Aghaloo GAA Grounds just on the southern side of the checkpoint. It was whilst passing through the checkpoint that Aiden was shot dead by the British army.

The British spin doctors were soon on the case as a whole barrage of lies were coming from various sources. ‘Security sources’ were quoted in various media outlets as saying the shooting was ‘accidental’ and that it was a ‘ricochet’ and all sorts of stuff. But this never washed with the family nor the nationalist community who knew better. Aiden was murdered it was as simple as that.



So to have the British come out with a statement of regret over 20 years from Aiden death how does that make you feel or what are your thoughts on the issuing of the statement?

“Well obviously the family were happy in the sense that at least this is a good start. The family have fought hard to get this amount of recognition that in fact Aidens death wasn’t an accident. We as a family knew that Aiden was deliberately gunned down but to have the British government to come out with a statement of regret for what their solders did on that day was bizarre but long over due. Although we were shocked by the statement we are always conscious that the truth must come out the British cant get around this issue. We like many other families throughout the north and further a field demand answers and the truth about the death of our loved ones. There is an old adage which says ‘the truth costs nothing’ and it’s true. You see the British spending millions of pounds on public enquires to establish the ‘facts’ when in many cases they already know the facts and the truth but refuse to let it be known.

Asked whether he thought the British were forced to make the statement Caolans stated:

“The family have met with the British secretary of state, Sean Woodward about the issue and have campaigned long and hard so that recognition of this kind be made about the death of Aiden. But I think that not only were the Brits forced by the family but by other factors too. One obvious example would be the report by the Historical Enquires Team (HET) which admitted that the British soldiers’ version of events was the least likely version of events. The British solider had claimed that the gun discharged bullets when he was moved it in the Sanger with wet hands. It is these shots, he claimed that killed Aiden. So I think when you take into account these factors the British hands were forced unwillingly.

(Above: Aiden McAnespies Funeral passes through the Checkpoint at Aughnacloy)

Do you believe the statement was an admission by the British that Aidens death was a deliberate murder?

“Whether they like to admit it or not that’s exactly was Aidens death was, deliberate murder. This statement as you say is an admission of that. Not only were the British quick to the media with their version of events in the hours and days following the shooting but they have also been involved in a cover up of the truth since that day in February 1988. So whilst we welcome the statement it was still the British government which have made it so hard for the family to get the truth. Who knows, had it not been for the barriers they placed in our way we could have the truth of the events of that day.

Does the statement satisfy the family?

“Whilst we welcome it does nothing to satisfy us in our quest for the truth. We are looking for the truth and this is just one small piece of the jigsaw. We would like to see a cross border inquiry into Aidens death. Whilst the British have concealed and covered up the murder, the attitude of the Dublin government has also been anything but impressive. They are also sitting on a report on Aidens death that we as a family haven’t even seen. We would like them to publish this document. What have they got to hide? They have been less than helpful in our quest for the truth.

The campaign for Aiden will continue until we get the truth and it is recognised that he was an innocent man who was shot dead in cold blood on his way to a game of football.

Even twenty years on from his murder Aidens memory lives on. There is a Gaelic football team in Boston named in his memory, there is a ballad which was written by Gerry Cunningham in his memory, which many people would be familiar with and there is a permanent memorial in his honour at the spot he was killed.

Many young people and indeed older people are walking about wearing the Boston GAA jersey with Aiden's name emblazoned on the back. So it is clear that Aidens memory and legacy lives on. Hopefully sooner rather than later the full story of Aiden McAnespie will be told. We as a family will continue to push for the truth and for the full facts of the day to be known. Whilst the statement by the British is welcomed we demand the full truth.

There is a saying is Irish which I believe is apt: ‘Tús maith leath na hoibre’. It means a good start is half the work, this is exactly what this statement is, a start. However the work will continue until we force the British and the Dublin government to reveal the truth. Aiden deserves nothing less.

(Above is the Aughnacloy Checkpoint. Aidan McAnespies car is the Brown one parked in Cornation Park in Aughnocloy in the background of this photo)