TUV MLA raises Gallagher murder with OFMDFM

Gordon Gallagher 9 who was killed when he triggered an IRA bomb in the garden of his Londonderry home in 1973.

The nine-year-old was killed when a landmine device exploded in his back garden in Leenan Gardens in Creggan on February 25, 1973.

In 2012 the IRA released a statement via the Pat Finucane Centre in Londonderry stating: “Republicans fully accept their responsibility for the death of Gordon and apologise to the parents and family of Gordon Gallagher for the pain and grief caused.”

The IRA said Gordon was killed after a botched attack on an Army foot patrol was abandoned on February 24, 1973.

Last year Traditional Unionist Voice (TUV) MLA Jim Allister asked the First Minister and Deputy First Minister if they had given all possible help to the Gallagher family “in their humanitarian quest to identify the murderer of their nine-year-old son, Gordon.”

Mr Allister has once again raised the matter with the Ministers, who reiterated the response given by Peter Robinson in April 2013.

“The Gallagher family has not sought help from the Office of the First Minister and deputy First Minister,” he stated.

“However, I assure the Member that I am willing to provide the family with all available help and assistance.

“I sympathise fully with the Gallagher family and can only imagine the tremendous suffering and pain that they have endured.”

“I call on anyone with any information regarding the murder of their son to come forward and give it to the PSNI,” the First Minister concluded.