Victim’s familly say RAAD are cowardly, evil, gang of murderers

In a lengthy statement the family have refuted a number of accusations made by RAAD in a claim of responsibility for the murder that was issued during the week.

Below follows the full statement issued in response to what the Allen family describe as RAAD’s “pathetic excuses.”

“It is very easy for this group to make false claims when Andrew is not here to speak for himself. So we will be speaking for him.

“From start to finish this statement is lies. Andrew had never been convicted of any offence whatsoever, whether for drugs or anything else. It took these people two weeks to admit this atrocity and then they produce this pathetic excuse.

“To say he used RAAD’s name is utterly ridiculous: Andrew could not stand any type of paramilitarism. Andrew was also never threatened by RAAD. The original threat came in the form of a list posted to a community organisation, with a bullet inserted in the envelope.

“Last week journalists were shown a copy of the threat message delivered to Andrew by the police. No organisation was identified and no motive was given.

“As far as Andrew was concerned the threat no longer existed, as he was assured it no longer applied. Had this not been the case he would never have come back to Derry.

“And we would also never have brought his son and his nephew to Buncrana because we would never have put their lives in danger. On the night Andrew was murdered, he was playing on the XBox III online.

“He was talking to him online when Arlene got up to check noises at the doors. The gunman fired a shotgun through the window, unaware of who was in the room with Andrew. Had Arlene not got up to check on the noise, she too may have been dead.

“Two days earlier, both his sons and nephew stayed at the house and played in that bedroom. The next night they were due to stay again. On either of those nights, we could have been dealing with dead children.

“That is the type of people who make up RAAD, people who are prepared to murder anyone in the most cowardly and evil manner.

“We appeal to the people of Derry to come forward with information so no other family is destroyed by these people. It is impossible to think these people can go home to their own families and act normally. Obviously such men are incapable of feeling emotions.

“The man who fired a shotgun through the bedroom window either had foreknowledge that we used that room or else he simply didn’t care who he murdered.

“He was a man who was around 5’8” or 5’9” tall, with a slim build. He was wearing dark clothing and a cap.

“We also know that he did not act alone. Others were involved in the murder itself and others would have given the orders.

“We want all of them brought to justice. We also dismiss the claim that the murder was carried out by a so-called Donegal unit. We know they all came from Derry.

“Andrew was a kind person who had many good friends on both sides of the community. He was extremely popular and never passed anyone he knew without speaking or waving to them. Anyone who knew Andrew well will know this statement from RAAD is utter nonsense.

“Anyone who did not know him can ask themselves who they believe - us, a loving, caring family, or a gang of murderers.”