Book on '˜Hooded Men' is republished after 40 years

Due to a campaign spearheaded by Lurgan man Jim McIlmurray to reopen a legal action claiming the men were tortured there has been a swell of interest in the case.

The original publication was by campaigning priests Monsignor Raymond Murray and Fr Denis Faul entitled ‘The Hooded Men’ British Torture in Ireland, August 1971’.

The book has changed somewhat from its original format and gives an up to date progress of the case with background and the current progress by their solicitor Darragh Mackin and campaign coordinator Jim McIlmurray.

The case left the public eye for decades after the European Court ruling in 1978. However on the 40th anniversary of internment in 2011, the men were reunited for the first time in 40 years in Lurgan by Mr McIlmurray.

He explained: “After researching files relating to the case under the freedom of information act, it was discovered that the British government had not presented all information relating to the case to the European Courts and a campaign was started to have the case reopened.

“Lurgan is the central base for the campaign and the surviving Hooded men are now a familiar sight in the town with Lurgan hosting all their legal meetings, press and public appearances.

“After an event in the town, the Hooded men gave something back to the Lurgan community in the form of three memorial stones in the Dougher cemetery. These included the “Dougher” entrance stone, a cross to remember the people of Shankill and a stone to remember those from the area who died during the Famine.

A book launch is scheduled in the near future for Lurgan, however the first launch will be in Toomebridge,the hometown of the late Pat Shivers, one of the Hooded men. It will be on June 14 at 7.00pm in the Elk Bar Complex Toomebridge. Everyone is welcome. Copies are available from good bookshops or from www.wordwellbooks.com