Memorial to Miami Showband unveiled

The Dáil will debate the Miami Showband massacre, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern promised at the unveiling today of a memorial to the…

The Dáil will debate the Miami Showband massacre, Taoiseach Bertie Ahern promised at the unveiling today of a memorial to the men killed by the UVF - allegedly in collusion with British security forces - in the Co Armagh attack.

The British government is accused of not co-operating with efforts to establish all those responsible for the shooting dead of three members of the popular band at Buskhill near Newry in 1975.

I saw the British army officer in control on that night. He wasn't that worried about hiding his identity because he thought we'd be dead in 20 minutes
Steve Travers of the Miami Showband

Speaking after unveiling a memorial to Fran O'Toole, Tony Geraghty and Brian McCoy, Mr Ahern said: "I know the quest for answers continues and I reiterate the Government's support for the families in that quest.

"We will take another step when there is a full debate in the Dáil at the beginning of the new session in early February. These issues demand and deserve the attention of our national parliament."

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Mr Ahern unveiled the memorial by Donegal sculptor Redmond Herrity at the site of the old National Ballroom in Parnell Square in Dublin, where the band regularly played.

Among the hundreds in attendance at the ceremony were: survivors of the attack, Stephen Travers and Des McAlea; and band member Ray Millar, who was not travelling with band at the time of the muders.

Family and relatives of McCoy, Geraghty and O'Toole - some of whom travelled from abroad - were also at the unveiling along with Helen Urwin, Secretary of Justice for the Forgotten, which has campaigned for a public inquiry.

Others in attendance were: former taoiseach Albert Reynolds and former minister for foreign affairs David Andrews. Broadcaster and former showband-era drummer Ronan Collins was Master of Ceremonies and former MEP and Eurovision Song Contest winner Dana Rosemary Scallon sang Love Is, written by O'Toole.

Father Brian D'Arcy and Anglican rector, Rev Robert Dean read prayers at the ceremony.

Geraghty (23), O'Toole (29) and McCoy (33) were killed after their minibus was stopped at a roadblock by the now disbanded Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR).

The band members, who were on their way to Dublin after playing in Banbridge, Co Down, were told to get out of the vehicle and line up on the side of the road.

Two UVF members, Harris Boyle and Wesley Sommerville, secretly attempted to plant a bomb on the minibus but it blew up killing them both.

Three members of the band were then shot dead by the UDA men, who were also UVF members. Travers and McAlea were injured in the attack for which James Somerville, Thomas Crozier and Rodney McDowell recieved life sentences. They were released under the Belfast Agreement.

Answering reporters' questions about the British government's failure to order a public inquiry into the incident, Travers said: "They must stop stonewalling all the mountains evidence that says there was collusion.

"I don't even need any of this evidence. I was there. I saw the British army officer in control on that night. He wasn't that worried about hiding his identity because he thought we'd be dead in 20 minutes."