Collusion in Cappagh killings

collusion in cappagh killings
The murder of Thomas Armstrong, Dwayne O’Donnell, John Quinn and Malcolm Nugent
4. The McAliskey / McVeigh papers
A contemporary report on the Cappagh Shooting
By Bernadette McAliskey
Introduction
24
Following the murder of four men in Cappagh, Co Tyrone on the night of the 3 rd of March, 1991, a
public meeting took place in Galbally Hall which was attended by the community and their public
representatives.
The general consensus of the meeting was that there was no public confidence that the assassins
would be caught, and a considerable body of opinion that the security forces had prior knowledge
and/or participation in the armed attack on Boyle’s Pub, which resulted in the deaths of four people,
a fifth being seriously injured.
It was decided that an effort should be made to document and record as much information as
possible with a view to making the facts available to any impartial body willing to investigate the
matter further.
Consequently, Fr. Joseph McVeigh and myself spent several days taking evidence from anyone
who came forward; and on the basis of information in these statements, visited a number of homes
and took further statements.
In all, thirty statements were taken, twenty-five of which were transcribed, including the name
of the witness making each statement. Five witnesses preferred to give verbal evidence, and while
happy to speak with us, did not wish to be identified, even to the extent of having their evidence
recorded. We respected this, but took the anonymous nature of evidence into account in weighing
it against other evidence.
Results of our Investigation:
Given the restrictions on our work, we were able only to raise questions rather than provide answers.
However, several important facts emerged which should be investigated further by someone with
greater access to information:
The first fact to emerge (from the statements of people who were, at any point prior to the
shooting, in the company or presence of the three young men who were in the car) was that their
decision to visit Boyle’s Bar at the time they did was taken within a short time of actually going there.
Statements taken from people in Boyle’s Bar clearly indicated that the particular grouping of
individuals in the bar was random. No one we spoke to was there by prior arrangement.
Conclusion: We therefore concluded that the attack on the bar, whilst premeditated and planned,
could not have been based on any prior knowledge of the identity of those in the bar, and was not
directed at specific persons.
We heard considerable evidence of the presence of the U.D.R. and military in the area, including
helicopter surveillance for the greater part of Sunday afternoon. The last ‘sightings’ of the army/U.D.R.
being approximately 7.00pm - 8.30pm. A helicopter in the area shortly after that was presumed to be
picking up the patrol, although there were no witnesses to the actual pick-up.
Thomas Armstrong, Dwayne O’Donnell, John Quinn, Malcolm Nugent Thomas Armstrong, Dwayne O’Donnell, John Quinn, Malcolm Nugent Thomas Armstrong, Dwayne O’Donnell, John Quinn, Malcolm Nugent Thomas Armstrong, Dwayne O’Donnell, John Quinn, Malcolm Nugent Thomas Armstrong,
nnell, John Quinn, Malcolm Nugent Thomas Armstrong, Dwayne O’Donnell, John Quinn, Malcolm Nugent Thomas Armstrong, Dwayne O’Donnell, John Quinn, Malcolm Nugent Thomas Armstrong, Dwayne O’Donnell, John Quinn, Malcolm Nugent Thomas Armstrong, Dwayne O’Donnell, John Quinn, Ma
Thomas Armstrong, Dwayne O’Donnell, John Quinn, Malcolm Nugent Thomas Armstrong, Dwayne O’Donnell, John Quinn, Malcolm Nugent Thomas Armstrong, Dwayne O’Donnell, John Quinn, Malcolm Nugent Thomas Armstrong, Dwayne O’Donnell, John Quinn, Malcolm Nugent Thomas Armstrong,