The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has announced plans to challenge a ruling by Belfast’s Coroner which deemed the shooting of four IRA members in Clonoe in 1992 unjustified.
In a letter to Conservative MP James Cartlidge, Veterans and People Minister Al Carns confirmed the MOD’s intention to request a judicial review of the findings made by Mr Justice Michael Humphreys.
The coroner’s report, released on 6 February, referred to the incident involving a Special Military Unit, widely believed to be the SAS, and stated that the use of lethal force in the shooting was “not justified”. The operation, which saw four IRA members killed in a car park after an attack on a Royal Ulster Constabulary station, was criticised for not being planned to minimise the need for lethal force.
In response to the ruling, Mr Carns said: “I can confirm that the Ministry of Defence has issued a pre-action protocol letter to the coroner, outlining the legal grounds for our judicial review application.” He also noted that the MOD will fund a judicial review by the veterans involved in the incident, who will also receive welfare and legal support.
The coroner’s report indicated that the shooting was conducted by 12 SAS members, who ambushed a group of IRA operatives in Clonoe after they had attacked a police station in Coalisland. The IRA members were killed while dismounting a truck mounted with a heavy machine gun. The four deceased, Kevin Barry O’Donnell, Patrick Vincent, Peter Clancy, and Sean O’Farrell, were believed to be members of the East Tyrone Brigade of the IRA.
The coroner’s finding that the killings were unjustified has led to calls for further investigation, with the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) now considering whether a criminal inquiry should be pursued. Should a prosecution occur, it could pave the way for investigations into other SAS and IRA operations during the Troubles.
The government’s decision to challenge the ruling has drawn criticism from Sinn Féin MP Cathal Mallaghan, who labelled the move “cynical”, accusing the British government of denying families truth and justice. Conversely, Doug Beattie MC, former leader of the Ulster Unionist Party (UUP), defended the MOD’s stance, asserting the importance of challenging the narrative that the terrorists were victims.
This development raises questions about the ongoing legacy of actions taken during the Troubles, and whether further investigations could be prompted by similar cases.
