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Greysteel attack united community, priest tells memorial service | Greysteel attack united community, priest tells memorial service |
(7 months later) | |
A remembrance service has been held in Greysteel, County Londonderry, 20 years after eight people were murdered at the Rising Sun bar. | A remembrance service has been held in Greysteel, County Londonderry, 20 years after eight people were murdered at the Rising Sun bar. |
The hour-long service took place in the Star of the Sea church in the village. | The hour-long service took place in the Star of the Sea church in the village. |
A priest said that the attack had united, not divided, the community. | A priest said that the attack had united, not divided, the community. |
Two gunmen from the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) opened fire on the bar on 30 October, 1993. They shot dead seven people and another man later died of his injuries. | Two gunmen from the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) opened fire on the bar on 30 October, 1993. They shot dead seven people and another man later died of his injuries. |
At first, customers thought it was a Halloween prank as the gunmen shouted "trick or treat" before opening fire. | At first, customers thought it was a Halloween prank as the gunmen shouted "trick or treat" before opening fire. |
The eight people who died were John Burns, Moira Duddy, Joe McDermott, Victor Montgomery, James Moore, John Moyne, Stephen Mullan, and Karen Thompson. | The eight people who died were John Burns, Moira Duddy, Joe McDermott, Victor Montgomery, James Moore, John Moyne, Stephen Mullan, and Karen Thompson. |
Homily | Homily |
A number of Protestant ministers attended the anniversary Mass. | A number of Protestant ministers attended the anniversary Mass. |
Fr Patrick Mullan told the congregation: "Far from driving a wedge in our community that horrific event, in fact, had the opposite effect, bringing us all closer together as brothers and sisters in Christ." | Fr Patrick Mullan told the congregation: "Far from driving a wedge in our community that horrific event, in fact, had the opposite effect, bringing us all closer together as brothers and sisters in Christ." |
A homily was given by Fr Stephen Kearney, who was a priest in Greysteel at the time of the massacre and was one of the first people on the scene. | A homily was given by Fr Stephen Kearney, who was a priest in Greysteel at the time of the massacre and was one of the first people on the scene. |
He paid tribute to the victims, and said that rather than seeking revenge, or justice, for the killings, they had used their pain in a way that gave comfort to others. | He paid tribute to the victims, and said that rather than seeking revenge, or justice, for the killings, they had used their pain in a way that gave comfort to others. |
The church service was followed by a short cross-community service at the memorial to the dead close to the bar. | The church service was followed by a short cross-community service at the memorial to the dead close to the bar. |
Prayers were said and the names of the victims were read out. | Prayers were said and the names of the victims were read out. |
After that service some people attended a reception in the Rising Sun bar. | After that service some people attended a reception in the Rising Sun bar. |
Terry Moyne's brother John was among the eight people who were murdered by loyalist gunmen. | Terry Moyne's brother John was among the eight people who were murdered by loyalist gunmen. |
"He was a family man, worked really hard and always sat by the door in the bar so he was probably one of the first victims," said Terry. | "He was a family man, worked really hard and always sat by the door in the bar so he was probably one of the first victims," said Terry. |
"I was in the city that night and someone said there was a shooting in Greysteel and I struggled to get any communication with John. It was chaos from then on in. | "I was in the city that night and someone said there was a shooting in Greysteel and I struggled to get any communication with John. It was chaos from then on in. |
"John's wife and children were the real sufferers. They were here tonight to remember him. | "John's wife and children were the real sufferers. They were here tonight to remember him. |
"I have never been back in the bar since. That week was a big turning point in the troubles but it brought people to their senses too. | |
"Most people have their fingers crossed that such trouble will never come back." | "Most people have their fingers crossed that such trouble will never come back." |
The 1993 attack followed an IRA bombing on the Shankill Road in west Belfast just days earlier, in which 10 people, including one of the bombers, were killed. | The 1993 attack followed an IRA bombing on the Shankill Road in west Belfast just days earlier, in which 10 people, including one of the bombers, were killed. |
Torrens Knight was given 12 life sentences for the Greysteel massacre and the separate murder of four workmen in Castlerock, both carried out by the loyalist UFF. | Torrens Knight was given 12 life sentences for the Greysteel massacre and the separate murder of four workmen in Castlerock, both carried out by the loyalist UFF. |
Four other UFF men were also given eight life sentences for the murders. | Four other UFF men were also given eight life sentences for the murders. |
'Healing mechanisms' | 'Healing mechanisms' |
One of those who died in the attack was 59-year-old mother of five, Moira Duddy. | One of those who died in the attack was 59-year-old mother of five, Moira Duddy. |
Martin Duddy, Moira's son, told the BBC that staying strong through prayer is the only option. | Martin Duddy, Moira's son, told the BBC that staying strong through prayer is the only option. |
"My mother was dedicated to her family. She was shy but caring and a loving woman. | |
"We have our own healing mechanisms and we have kept together. We have to. | "We have our own healing mechanisms and we have kept together. We have to. |
"At the time it was total shock and disbelief but we are a good family unit. | |
"We haven't really talked about the anniversary. We have our own thoughts and let it be. We are in a better Northern Ireland and I hope we have lasting peace here and that everyone can talk together. | "We haven't really talked about the anniversary. We have our own thoughts and let it be. We are in a better Northern Ireland and I hope we have lasting peace here and that everyone can talk together. |
"I can't really think about those who carried out this atrocity. I look on the good and thankfully for the next generation we are living in a better Northern Ireland." | "I can't really think about those who carried out this atrocity. I look on the good and thankfully for the next generation we are living in a better Northern Ireland." |
'Absolutely frantic' | 'Absolutely frantic' |
Adrian McAuley was a paramedic on duty the night of the killings. He said the anniversary was poignant. | Adrian McAuley was a paramedic on duty the night of the killings. He said the anniversary was poignant. |
"We came back to our base when we got a call to go to the Rising Sun bar to a shooting," he said. | "We came back to our base when we got a call to go to the Rising Sun bar to a shooting," he said. |
"We turned off the main road and there were about 20 or 30 people outside the bar. They were absolutely frantic, waving their arms in shock. | "We turned off the main road and there were about 20 or 30 people outside the bar. They were absolutely frantic, waving their arms in shock. |
"I saw people shot and wounded lying on the floor and slumped in their seats. | "I saw people shot and wounded lying on the floor and slumped in their seats. |
"The sound of crying and screaming was overwhelming." | "The sound of crying and screaming was overwhelming." |
Mr McAuley said he had to bring in extra resources to deal with the incident. | Mr McAuley said he had to bring in extra resources to deal with the incident. |
"Shootings were nothing new to the ambulance service, but this was on a scale that I had never seen before," he said. | "Shootings were nothing new to the ambulance service, but this was on a scale that I had never seen before," he said. |
"Your job at the time is about treatment and transport so you didn't really get time to think about it. | |
"That first sight mixed with the smell of gun smoke will never leave me." | "That first sight mixed with the smell of gun smoke will never leave me." |