HandoutA man who lost his 13-year-old sister in the 1993 Shankill bombing hopes the new body set up to investigate Troubles killings will help his mother “rest in peace”.
Gary Murray has applied to the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) for it to examine the attack, with the hope of “getting the truth”.
He said that he wants to “carry on the fight” from his late mum Gina who spent 32 years campaigning before she died of cancer in October.
The ICRIR said that it will “continue to work to give answers to the over 200 individuals from across the community who have to come to us in their quest for truth and justice”.
‘Mum was never herself after’
HandoutSpeaking on Good Morning Ulster, Gary said that he hoped “this body will be different” after interactions with the Police Service of Northern Ireland’s Historical Inquiries’ team “didn’t work out the best”.
He said that losing his sister, Leanne Murray, in the Shankill bomb “completely destroyed” his mother who spent 32 years “trying to get answers”.
“She was never herself afterwards. After watching the way she was all those years just broke my heart so when this opportunity came along, I wasn’t going to miss it,” he added.
“I believe in my hearts of hearts I have to carry on the fight and I’ve got to get truth for my mum and my little sister.”
He said he is hoping now “all these years later that this new body will be different and hopefully the families can get the answers they are looking for”.
“If I get these answers then hopefully my mum can rest in peace”, he added.
PacemakerWhat was the Shankill bombing?
In October 1993, the IRA placed a bomb in Frizzell’s fish shop along a packed Shankill Road.
Nine people died and more than 50 others were injured.
One of the two IRA bombers was also killed.
Shankill bomber Sean Kelly was convicted and given nine life sentences for his role in the attack, but he was released in July 2000 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement.
Other ICRIR investigations
On Wednesday, the Irish Times reported that new forensic evidence from an ICRIR investigation has identified suspects in Guildford and other 1970s IRA bombings.
In a statement, the ICRIR said that the Commission is “committed to serving victims, families and survivors”.
“We respect people’s choices about whether they come to the Commission and our door will always remain open to all.
“We will continue to work to give answers to the over 200 individuals from across the community who have to come to us in their quest for truth and justice.”
