Families of IRA men shot dead by SAS in 1983 settle case

The families of two IRA men shot dead by British soldiers nearly 43 years ago have reached settlements in their claims for damages, the High Court in Belfast has heard.

Brian Campbell, aged 19, and Colm McGirr, aged 23, died after the SAS mounted an operation at the scene of an arms dump near Coalisland, Co Tyrone in December 1983.

Relatives of both men sued the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), alleging a shoot-to-kill policy and lack of effective investigation.

In court it was announced that both actions have been settled on confidential terms.

The families are to make a donation to charity following the outcome.

Mr Campbell and Mr McGirr were shot dead after they attended the weapons cache in the Cloghog Road area along with another unidentified individual.

British troops who had been carrying out surveillance at the scene for three days then opened fire on them, according to the families' lawyers.

One of the soldiers later told an inquest that the IRA men had taken possession of guns and were pointing them in the direction of the military unit.

Up to 79 bullet cartridges recovered from the scene were said to be traceable to the soldiers’ weapons.

The inquest, held in 1985, made no significant findings about the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

But an expert report commissioned as part of an Historical Enquiries Team (HET) probe in 2013 concluded that the positioning of Mr McGirr’s body was consistent with him kneeling when shot, lawyers said.

A further finding was made that no shots had struck Mr Cambell from the front.

Based on that report relatives of both men issued legal proceedings for damages against the MoD and PSNI in 2016.

Their barrister, Des Fahy KC, told the court that undisclosed settlements have now been reached in the claims.

Mr Justice Rooney responded: "It is good news to hear that two actions have been resolved after this length of time."

Speaking outside court, the families’ solicitor, Pádraig Ó Muirigh, indicated the confidential terms were agreed following weeks of negotiations.

"I can confirm that my clients are satisfied with the outcome of this litigation [and] will now be making a donation to charity," he said.

Mr O Muirigh claimed the families had fought for more than 40 years to expose the circumstances surrounding the deaths of their loved ones.

"They have always maintained that the British Army operated a 'shoot to kill’ policy during the conflict," he added.

"The search of the arms dump appears to have been intelligence-led and the families have always questioned why the deceased were not apprehended at the scene."