As Maguire continued ahead, up the by-pass toward Newry, he noticed a blue Triumph 2000 pulling-out from where it had been parked in a lay-by. They asked him if he recognised it or could he identify it. Assuming it was a legitimate checkpoint, McCoy informed the others inside the minibus of a military checkpoint up ahead and pulled in at the lay-by as directed by the armed men. He wore a uniform and beret noticeably different from the others. Former serving Secret Intelligence Service agent Captain Fred Holroyd, and others, suggested that Nairac had organised the attack in co-operation with Robin Jackson and the Mid-Ulster UVF. At the precise moment of the explosion, the patrol came under intense automatic fire from the occupants of the other vehicle. [58], Following the post-mortems, funerals were held for the three slain musicians; they received televised news coverage by RT, Ireland's public service broadcaster. But by this time, he was ready to go to jail. One of these men, Lance-Corporal Thomas Raymond Crozier (aged 25, a painting contractor from Lurgan) of C Company, 11th Battalion UDR was charged with the Miami killings. Maguire recalled that the car first slowed down, then it accelerated, flashing its lights. [18] More uniformed men appeared from out of the darkness, their guns pointed at the minibus. In photographs of the Miami Showband in the 1970s he is a slim and beautiful young man in blue denim , bright-eyed and brimming with fun and music and confidence in himself and in the future.. Just after the arrival of this mysterious soldier, McCoy nudged Travers, who was standing beside him, and reassured him by saying "Don't worry Stephen, this is British Army". He relayed all his instructions to the gunman in command. . [100] According to the report, Jackson had claimed during police interrogations that after the shootings, a senior RUC officer had advised him to "lie low". View On One Page Photo 22 of 51 ADVERTISEMENT () Start Slideshow . Profitieren Sie von der globalen Reichweite, datengesttzten Erkenntnissen und einem Netzwerk von ber 340.000 Content-Anbietern von Getty Images, die exklusiv fr Ihre Marke Inhalte erstellen. The Story With thanks to Jimmy Harte, Anto Long and Caroline Allen Dickie's Miami (1962-1972) Few bands in Ireland have had as prolific, and tragic, a history as the Miami. Das Getty Images Design ist eine eingetragene Marke von Getty Images. Ashford had been asked to leave the band in 1973, for complaining that performing in Northern Ireland put their lives at risk. Driven by a personal tragedy, a pianist-turned-lawyer navigates the complex world of divorce fighting for his clients to win by any means necessary. Millionen hochwertiger Bilder, Videos und Musiktracks warten auf Sie. Laat uw merk op authentieke wijze groeien door uw merkcontent te delen met de makers van het internet. Harris Boyle and Wesley Somerville were given UVF paramilitary funerals conducted by Free Presbyterian minister William McCrea, a Democratic Unionist Party politician. [19] In early 1973, Billy MacDonald (a.k.a. [4][18][28][29] As Crozier took down the information, a car pulled up and another uniformed man appeared on the scene. A Sunday World investigation into the Miami Showband atrocity has revealed the now deceased killer's assertion was true. He was unimpressed by the UVF men he met in the loyalist stronghold. [37][38] This might have resulted in the Irish authorities enforcing tighter controls over the border, thus restricting IRA operations. However, later forensics established that Boyle and Somerville were putting the bomb under the driver's seat and as it tilted on its side it detonated. [76] Retired diplomat Alistair Kerr wrote a biography of Nairac entitled "Betrayal: the Murder of Robert Nairac" published in 2015, which offers documentary evidence that clears Nairac of having been at Buskhill overseeing the attack. [51] An independent panel of inquiry commissioned by the Pat Finucane Centre has established that among the weapons actually used in the killings were two Sterling submachine guns and a 9mm Luger pistol serial no. "The cops showed John a bag containing a human arm with a Mid-Ulster UVF tattoo on it. December 29, 2022 by Corinne Sullivan. [36] Dillon opined that another reason the UVF decided to target the Miami Showband was because Irish nationalists held them in high regard; to attack the band was to strike the nationalists indirectly. [53] It was believed he had been betrayed to the RUC by a member of the gang. From left: Steve Travers, Tony Geraghty, Ray Millar, Brian McCoy, Fran O'Toole, Des Lee. They also discovered a stolen white Ford Escort registration number 4933 LZ,[43] which had been left behind by the gunmen, along with two guns, ammunition, green UDR berets and a pair of glasses later traced to James McDowell, the gunman who had allegedly ordered the shootings. Both men had pleaded for their lives before they were shot; one had cried out, "Please don't shoot me don't kill me". Aged 70, he died of cancer of the kidney. The attack was carried out by loyalist paramilitary group, the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and took place while the group, a popular cabaret band, were travelling home to Dublin after a performance. More than 100 killings have been attributed to him by the Pat Finucane Centre, the Derry-based civil rights group.[15][17]. But along with his friend Jackson, he helped build the UVF in mid-Ulster. In late 1974, the Miami Showband's song "Clap Your Hands and Stomp Your Feet" (featuring O'Toole on lead vocals) reached no. [30] The UVF's plan was that the bomb would explode once the minibus had reached Newry, killing all on board. [35] Dillon also opined in God and the Gun: The Church and Irish Terrorism that the dead bombers, Harris Boyle and Wesley Somerville, had actually led the UVF gang at Buskhill. [19][25][26] During "The Troubles" it was normal for the British Army to set up checkpoints at any time. It was a forgiveness that few of the relatives of his victims were willing to give. [4] Despite the heavy gunfire, Tony Geraghty and Fran O'Toole attempted to carry a severely injured Stephen Travers to safety, but were unable to move him far. Five people were killed, including three members of The Miami Showband, who were one of Ireland's most popular cabaret bands. [4][21], The jocular mood of the gunmen abruptly ceased. It is fronted by McAlea, who returned to Northern Ireland the same year after living in South Africa since about 1982. The scene of the Miami Showband killings in County Down, Northern Ireland, on 31 July 1975. Her brothers Seamus and Michael also died in the attack, which was later claimed by the Protestant Action Force, a cover name for the Mid-Ulster UVF. Irish Times diarist Frank McNally summed up the massacre as "an incident that encapsulated all the madness of the time". In a rare interview with the BBC Spotlight programme before his death of kidney cancer in 2015, Somerville spoke only once and very briefly about the Miami Showband Massacre. Despite his conversion to Christianity, Somerville remained virulently anti-Catholic and he strongly opposed the Good Friday Agreement. [80] The same panel revealed that about six weeks before the attack, Thomas Crozier, Jackson and the latter's brother-in-law Samuel Fulton Neill, were arrested for the possession of four shotguns. Miljoenen beelden, videos en muzikale opties van hoge kwaliteit wachten op u. Maak gebruik van de wereldwijde schaalgrootte, data-gedreven inzichten en het netwerk van meer dan 340.000 makers van Getty Images om voor uw merk exclusieve content te creren. I was given a sub-machine gun but I had never fired it. [29] Travers also stepped up to the gunmen and told them to be careful with his guitar. Verzamel, beheer en geef commentaar bij uw bestanden. A". [23], According to the Irish Times, at the height of Irish showbands' popularity (from the 1950s to the 1970s), up to as many as 700 bands travelled to venues all over Ireland on a nightly basis.[24]. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. Crozier told police, and later a court, that he had not played a large part in the attack. [53] The judge, by sentencing McDowell and Crozier to 35 years imprisonment each, had handed down the longest life sentences in the history of Northern Ireland; he commented that "killings like the Miami Showband must be stopped". [96], In a report on Nairac's alleged involvement in the massacre, published in the Sunday Mirror newspaper on 16 May 1999, Colin Wills called the ambush "one of the worst atrocities in the 30-year history of the Troubles". 2023 Getty Images. [41] Fran O'Toole attempted to run away, but was quickly chased down by the gunmen who had immediately jumped down into the field in pursuit. 2023 Getty Images. [clarification needed] James McDowell lives in Lurgan, and John James Somerville became an evangelical minister in Belfast. The RUC were led to him through his glasses which had been found at the murder scene. He . [9] According to authors Paul Larkin and Martin Dillon, Jackson was accompanied by Harris Boyle when he killed Hanna. It is obvious, therefore, that the UVF patrol was justified in taking the action it did and that the killing of the three Showband members should be regarded as justifiable homicide. The other gunmen then started shooting the dazed band members, killing three and wounding two. The two men were found shot dead nearby. The Mid-Ulster Battalion has been assisting the South Down-South Armagh units since the IRA Forkhill boobytrap which killed four British soldiers. Site of the massacre; a commemorative plaque shows where the band's minibus was parked in the lay-by. It took place on the A1 road at Buskhill in County Down, Northern Ireland. McCoy's words, therefore, were taken seriously by the other band members, and anything he said was considered to be accurate. The three men were sent to serve their sentence in the Maze Prison, on the outskirts of Lisburn. (Part of the Independent Newspapers Ireland/NLI Collection) (Photo by Independent News and Media/Getty Images), 3928x2594px (33,26 x 21,96 cm) - 300 dpi - 5 MB. [4] He spoke with an educated English accent and immediately took charge, ordering a man who appeared to have been the leader of the patrol to tell Crozier to obtain their names and dates of birth instead of addresses. Can you step out of the van for a few minutes and we'll just do a check". [67][clarification needed], A number of suspects were arrested by the RUC in early August 1975. Griffin based her theory on the nine bullets that were fired from a Luger into McCoy's body and that Jackson's fingerprints were found on the silencer used for a Luger. 8 in the Irish charts. [68] McDowell had pleaded guilty. [3] The UVF would be once more banned by the British government on 3 October 1975. [85], The Pat Finucane Centre has named the Miami Showband killings as one of the 87 violent attacks perpetrated by the Glenanne gang against the Irish nationalist community in the 1970s. The plaque describes them as having been "killed in action". Fortnight Magazine reported that on 1 June 1982, John James Somerville began a hunger strike at the Maze to obtain special category status. On July 30, 1972, the final details. Boards zijn de beste plekken om beelden en videoclips op te slaan. Somerville walked over to McCaughey saying: "Get back on the bus. [34] Afterward, as Travers recovered in hospital, the other survivor Des McAlea gave the police a description of McDowell as the gunman with a moustache and wearing dark glasses who appeared to have been the leader of the patrol. They subsequently set up a roadblock with "all the trappings of a regular military checkpoint". Unlike Jackson, Somerville was arrested in the wake of the Miami atrocity, but he refused to make a statement and was released without charge. Journalist Emily O'Reilly noted in the Sunday Tribune that none of the three men convicted of the massacre ever implicated Nairac in the attack or accused him of causing Boyle's death. According to loyalists who knew him, Somerville turned down countless RUC Special Branch offers to work as a police agent. UVF serial killer John Somerville shot Miami Showband singer Fran O'Toole 22 times in the face. 34575/04 by Sean McCartney against the United Kingdom: The European Court of Human Rights (Fourth Section)", "John Weir's Affadavit, Statement by John Weir 03.01.99", "On this day 15October: 1976: UDR men jailed for Showband killings", "Miami Showband massacre survivor shakes with anguish as he remembers his slain friends 40 years on", "Evidence clears Robert Nairac of murders he has been linked to: author", "MoD documents link Robert Nairac to Miami Showband massacre", "Statement of Miami Showband families and survivors in response to the findings of the Historical Enquiries Team into the murders of Anthony Geraghty, Brian McCoy and Francis O'Toole", "Day of 'The Jackal' has finally drawn to a close", "Robert Nairac in command at massacre says Miami guitarist", "Miami Showband Killer Dies at 70; UVF murderer Somerville found dead of cancer in his squalid flat", "Memorial to victims of Miami massacre to be unveiled in Dublin", "Miami Showband killings: Police tipoff helped suspect elude justice, says report", "Miami Showband massacre: HET raises collusion concerns", "Netflix fails to make sense of the Miami Showband Massacre", 'Remastered: The Miami Showband Massacre' On Netflix Unmasks a Conspiracy and False Flag Attack, Houses of the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Justice, Equality, Defence and Women's Rights, "Interim Report on the Report of the Independent Commission of Inquiry into the Dublin and Monaghan Bombings [The Barron Report]", "Interim Report on the Report of the Independent Commission of Inquiry into the Bombing of Kay's Tavern, Dundalk", Interim reports (more detail than final reports) of Irish parliamentary inquiries, Ceasefires of the Provisional IRA, UVF, UDA and RHC, Murders of Andrew Robb and David McIlwaine, Ulster Loyalist Central Co-ordinating Committee, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Miami_Showband_killings&oldid=1142010371, Improvised explosive device bombings in Northern Ireland, People killed by security forces during The Troubles (Northern Ireland), Articles with dead external links from April 2012, Articles with dead external links from May 2017, Articles with permanently dead external links, Wikipedia articles needing clarification from July 2020, Articles with dead external links from February 2023, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 3.0, This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 01:35. [4], In May 1974, unionists called a general strike to protest against the Sunningdale Agreement an attempt at power-sharing, setting up a Northern Ireland Executive and a cross-border Council of Ireland, which would have given the Government of Ireland a voice in running Northern Ireland. Although this information was passed on to RUC headquarters, nothing was done about it. [47][71] In his first parliamentary speech on 7 July 1987, Ken Livingstone MP told the House of Commons, "it was likely" that Nairac had organised the attack. And nearer home, they carried out five operations in one day in the Moy and Stewartstown. The conflict in Northern Ireland, known as "the Troubles", began in the late 1960s. It had been blown off his torso when the bomb prematurely exploded as a result of static electricity. By this time the gunmen had left the scene, assuming everyone else had been killed. The explosion ripped through the building, killing 21-year-old married woman Marion Bowen, who was eight months pregnant at the time. On April 17, 1975, Somerville and Jackson blew up a Catholic-owned cottage which was being renovated at Killyliss between Dungannon and Ballygawley. The attack was carried out by loyalist paramilitary group, the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and took place while the group, a popular cabaret band, were travelling home to Dublin after a performance. About 10 gunmen were at the checkpoint, according to author and journalist Martin Dillon. Major Boyle ordered his patrol to apprehend the occupants for questioning. [66] RUC officer John Weir claims that UDR corporal and alleged UVF member Robert McConnell was involved in the attack. [21][36] He suggested that had all gone according to plan, the loyalist extremists would have been able to clandestinely bomb the Republic of Ireland, yet claim that the band were republican bomb-smugglers carrying explosives on behalf of the IRA. He also survived by remaining silent, pretending he was dead. [79], Another persistent allegation is the direct involvement of Mid-Ulster UVF leader Robin Jackson, a native of Donaghmore, County Down, 1.5 miles (2.4km) away from Buskhill. Other photographs in the set show similar injuries to all four limbs, his buttocks and face. [34][81][82] The panel stated that it was unclear why Crozier, Jackson and Neill were not in police custody at the time the Miami Showband killings took place. In his flat - which few people visited - Somerville kept a large photograph of Robin Jackson on the wall of his living room. Two days before, Jackson and Somerville had carried out a bomb and gun attack at McGleenan's pub in Armagh, killing its owner Jack McGleenan and customers Patrick Hughes and Thomas Morris. The UVF man, who identified himself only as "the Craftsman", apologised to Travers for the attack, and explained that the UVF gunmen shot the band because they "had panicked" that night. This is one of the first real crime scene photos ever taken. [47] The UVF gunmen had worn green UDR berets, whereas the other man's had been lighter in colour. [56], Within 12 hours of the attack, the UVF's Brigade Staff (Belfast leadership based on the Shankill Road) issued a statement. The Officers and Agents of the Ulster Central Intelligence Agency commend the UVF on their actions and tender their deepest sympathy to the relatives of the two Officers who died while attempting to remove the bomb from the minibus. Brian McCoy was the first to die, having been hit in the back and neck by nine rounds from a 9mm Luger pistol in the initial volley of gunfire. It was found 100 yards (91m) from the site with a "UVF Portadown" tattoo on it. Five members of the Dublin-based band were travelling home after a performance at the Castle Ballroom in Banbridge, County Down, on Thursday 31 July 1975. [7] At the time of the attack the Mid-Ulster Brigade was commanded by Robin Jackson, also known as "The Jackal". [62] The attack was blamed on loyalists; Lost Lives an account of every death in the conflict states that reliable loyalist sources have confirmed the UVF was responsible. I passed out when the explosion happened and that was when I lost the gun, the glasses, and a UDR beret. At no time did this new soldier speak to any of the band members nor did he directly address Crozier. The ruthless UVF killer fell into a deep depression fuelled by alcohol. [62][64], On 24 August 1975, Catholic civilians Colm McCartney and Sean Farmer were stopped in their car at what is believed to have been another fake checkpoint at Altnamackin (near Newtownhamilton). It was my own personal feelings and convictions at the time these things happened. [77] However, Ministry of Defence documents released in 2020 contain suggestions that Nairac acquired equipment and uniforms for the Miami Showband killers, and that he was responsible for the planning and execution of the attack itself. [2], The UVF Mid-Ulster Brigade operated mainly around the Portadown and Lurgan areas. Viewing autopsy photographs of her battered body in court on Tuesday, she became teary and asked to take a break. [31] Travers described McCoy as a "sophisticated, father-type figure. I only came into it because of my UDR connection and the fact that I had a uniform. Jackson informed Frazer that John Somerville was due for release. Jackson was convinced Hanna was a Special Branch informer and he feared he may spill details of the imminent Miami attack to his RUC handler. Gaelic footballer brothers John Martin Reavey (24) and Brian (22) died at the scene, while 17-year-old Anthony died three weeks later. [19] The Irish Times reported that on the night following the attack, the British ambassador Sir Arthur Galsworthy was summoned to hear the Government of Ireland's strong feelings regarding the murder of the three band members. [21][22][31] Travers thought that McCoy, a Protestant from Northern Ireland, was familiar with security checkpoints and had reckoned the regular British Army would be more efficient than the Ulster Defense Regiment (UDR), who had a reputation for unprofessional and unpredictable behaviour, especially toward people from the Republic. In January 2015, he was found dead in his Shankill Road flat. [4], A continued allegation in the case has been the presence of Captain Robert Nairac at the scene. The scene of the Miami Showband Killings on the A1 road at Buskhill in County Down, Northern Ireland, 31st July 1975. [30][32], McCoy, son of the Orange Order's Grand Master for County Tyrone,[33] had close relatives in the security forces; his brother-in-law was a former member of the B Specials which had been disbanded in 1970. The 55-cent stamp, designed with a 1967 publicity photograph of the band, included two of the slain members, Fran O'Toole and Brian McCoy, as part of the line-up when Dickie Rock was the frontman. Over the following month, there were two similar attacks in the area. Aaron Carter's mom releases shocking pictures of his 'death scene' bathroom in desperate bid to get cops to probe his death as a crime despite coroner saying it was an accidental drugs overdose The Provisional IRA carried out the bombing of two pubs in the English city of Birmingham the following November, resulting in 21 deaths. It also devastated the burgeoning live music scene in Northern Ireland.. [5] At Christmas 1974 the IRA declared a ceasefire, which theoretically lasted throughout most of 1975. Twenty minutes before - in what was clearly a co-ordinated operation - another loyalist killer gang made up of police officers and UDR soldiers launched a murder attack on the Reavey family home in Whitecross. The Miami Showband killings (also called the Miami Showband massacre)[1] was an attack on 31 July 1975 by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), a loyalist paramilitary group. Three band members were shot dead by loyalist gunmen. . Using a similar terror technique, they set up another fake checkpoint at Cornalaght, Newtownhamilton. Sometimes the showbands played traditional Irish music at their performances. "IRA 'responsible' for killings blamed on loyalists", "Decision as to the admissibility of Application no. Browse 25,406 crime scene photos stock photos and images available or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. [55] Robin Jackson died of cancer on 30 May 1998, aged 49. This had meant the possible withdrawal of British troops from Northern Ireland. [55] Although ballistic testing had linked the Luger (for which the silencer had been specifically made) to the Miami Showband attack, Jackson was never questioned about the killings after his fingerprints had been discovered on the silencer, and the Miami inquiry team were never informed about these developments. Travers later recalled hearing one of the departing gunmen tell his comrade who had kicked McCoy's body to make sure he was not alive: "Come on, those bastards are dead. It allows for commemoration and leaving of flowers at the location itself. This meant that both it and the UDA were legal organisations. The year 1975 was marked by an escalation in sectarian attacks and a vicious feud between the two main loyalist paramilitary groups, the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and the Ulster Defence Association (UDA). But as the death toll mounted, so did Somerville's drinking. The Miami Showband killings (also called the Miami Showband Massacre) was an attack by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), a loyalist paramilitary group, on 31 July 1975. Hier knnen Sie Inhalte sammeln, auswhlen und Anmerkungen zu Ihren Dateien hinterlegen. The massacre dealt a blow to Northern Ireland's live music scene, which had brought young Catholics and Protestants together. [93], A monument dedicated to the dead Miami Showband members was unveiled at a ceremony at Parnell Square North, Dublin, on 10 December 2007. "ReMastered: The Miami Showband . Forensic photography, or the practice of taking photos at the scene of a crime, has been around for over a century. He also provides other alibis for Nairac precluding his presence at the scenes of both the John Francis Green killing and the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. The attack was carried out by. O'Toole was noted for his good looks and popularity with female fans,[20] and was described by the Miami Showband's former bass guitarist, Paul Ashford, as having been the "greatest soul singer" in Ireland. [81] Neill's car was one of those allegedly used in the Buskhill attack. He believed it was based on the erroneous linkage of Nairac to the earlier murder of IRA man John Francis Green in County Monaghan the same pistol was used in both attacks. The Glenanne gang was a loose alliance of loyalist extremists allegedly operating under the command of British Military Intelligence and/or RUC Special Branch. [18][22] Meanwhile, two other gunmen at the front of the minibus were placing the briefcase containing the bomb under the driver's seat. Three photos, which have been cropped slightly and published below, show the extent of the injuries to Rainey's chest, back, arms and legs. Four Protestant civilians (two men and two women) and UVF member Hugh Harris were killed in the attack. [21] He was replaced by Johnny Brown, who in turn was replaced by Dave Monks until Stephen Travers eventually became the band's permanent bass player. The latest from Netflix's ReMastered series focusses on the Miami Showband massacre, which took place at Banbridge, Co. Down on July 31, 1975. Everybody was respectful to Brian". [90] The encounter took place inside Hudson's church, All Souls Belfast. The scene of The Miami Showband Massacre [15][16] A report in the Irish Times implicated Jackson in the Dublin bombings. The Historical Enquiries Team investigated the killings and released their report to the victims' families in December 2011. He refused to name his accomplices, as he felt that to do so would put the lives of his family in danger. [55] Both the silencer and pistol which was later established to have been the same one used in the Miami Showband killings were found by the security forces at the home of Edward Sinclair. Jane Carter says late son received many threats prior to his death. A child of Northern Ireland's Troubles recalls that fateful night when The Miami Showband was ambushed by the Ulster Volunteer Force on this day in 1975. Halfway to Newry, their minibus was stopped at what appeared to be a military checkpoint where gunmen in British Army uniforms ordered them to line up by the roadside. [84], The families held a press conference in Dublin after the report was released. As they began to enter the vehicle, a bomb was detonated and both men were killed outright. [19], The 1975 line-up comprised four Catholics and two Protestants. The Miami Showband (1962-1996 and 2008-present) Photo Gallery - Band Lineups - Discography - Audio samples - Where Are They Now? [22] Near the junction with Buskhill Road they were flagged down by armed men dressed in British Army uniforms waving a red torch in a circular motion. By the mid-1980s, the showbands had lost their appeal for the Irish public; although The Miami Showband, albeit with a series of different line-ups, did not disband until 1986. Ray Millar, the band's drummer, was not with them as he had chosen to go to his home town of Antrim to spend the night with his parents. After meeting a new woman, Somerville settled on the Shankill and for a while he worked in the Harland and Wolff shipyard. Others had already been convicted for the Miami attack and they wanted John to stay in the UVF, but to work for them," said a former loyalist prisoner who served time in prison with Somerville. Martin Dillon suggested in The Dirty War that at least five serving UDR soldiers were present at the checkpoint. But he quit when the Troubles erupted on the streets of Belfast and Derry in the autumn of 1969. There are also allegations that British military intelligence agents were involved. [100] He did, however, express his concern over the fact that nobody was ever charged with his attempted murder. As the UUUC would not abide any form of power-sharing with the Dublin government, no agreement could be reached and the convention failed, again marginalising Northern Ireland's politicians and the communities they represented. They Cloned Tyrone. When asked to comment about the report, Des McAlea replied: "It's been a long time but we've got justice at last". According to Kerr, on 31 July 1975 at 4 am Nairac had started out on a road journey from London to Scotland for a fishing holiday. [44] The independent panel of inquiry commissioned by the Pat Finucane Centre concluded that there was "credible evidence that the principal perpetrator [of the Miami Showband attack] was a man who was not prosecuted alleged RUC Special Branch agent Robin Jackson". [4] The UVF had cut all ties with Somerville after he had opposed the 1994 ceasefire. Organiseer, beheer, distribueer en meet al uw digitale content. Its basic repertoire included cover versions of pop songs that were currently in the charts, and standard dance numbers.