Teebane families have waited decades for truth and accountability, and have been denied both - TUV
A remembrance service marking 34 years since the Teebane atrocity in which eight Protestant workmen were murdered by the Provisional IRA was held on Sunday in Co Tyrone.
Survivors of the attack and bereaved families attended the service at Teebane crossroads on the Cookstown-Omagh road.
They were employees of Ballymena-based Karl Construction and were returning home in a minibus from a day's work at the Lisanelly Army base in Omagh.
As in previous years, the Rev Ivor Smith and Rev Wiliam McCrea conducted proceedings at the event which is always deeply poignant and this year was no different with large numbers in attendance.
Kenny Donaldson, SEFF’s Director, said many first generation victims are now missing the event due to having passed away themselves or through having depleted health. But they are replaced by younger generations determined to remember and to keep alive the memory and legacy of precious loved ones.
“Teebane was an act of premeditated sectarian slaughter carried out under the cover of economic motivated terrorism and presented by The Provisional as being justified due to some of the contracts work progressed by the employer within police stations etc,” he said.
“It remains a travesty that those responsible for the Teebane attack have not been held accountable for their heinous actions. SEFF’s Advocacy service continues to support bereaved families in their efforts pursuing justice, truth and accountability
“Eight innocent hard working men – many with their own families – perished that evening with several more of their colleagues surviving, but with life changing physical and/or psychological injuries."
TUV Mid Ulster chairman Glenn Moore said the Teebane families have waited decades for truth and accountability, and have been denied both.
“Yet the self styled First Minister for all — who is also the local MLA for this area — has said of the IRA campaign that ‘at the time there was no alternative’.
“There was always an alternative to murdering civilians. And there is no excuse for denying justice. Teebane will not be forgotten.”
Those killed in the attack on January 17, 1992, were William Gary Bleeks (25), Cookstown, Cecil James Caldwell (37), Robert Dunseath (25), Magherafelt, David Harkness (23), Cookstown, Robert Irons (61), Ballymena, John Richard McConnell (38), Nigel McKee (22), Randalstown, and Oswald Gilchrist (44), Magherafelt.