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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Memorial to murdered band members | Memorial to murdered band members |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A memorial has been unveiled to members of the Miami Showband murdered by loyalists in 1975. | |
| Taoiseach Bertie Ahern attended a ceremony and prayer service outside the National Ballroom in Parnell Square North in Dublin. | |
| Three band members, Tony Geraghty, Fran O'Toole and Brian McCoy, were shot dead by a UVF gang at Buskhill, Newry. The killers were also members of the UDR. | |
| The attack happened after the band's van was stopped at a bogus checkpoint. | |
| While the band members were lined up outside, two UVF men attempted to plant a bomb in the van. | While the band members were lined up outside, two UVF men attempted to plant a bomb in the van. |
| It exploded prematurely killing the would-be bombers. The rest of the gang then opened fire on the band members, killing three of them. | It exploded prematurely killing the would-be bombers. The rest of the gang then opened fire on the band members, killing three of them. |
| During the 60s and 70s showbands were without a doubt the most effective fighting force against sectarianism on this island Stephen TraversSurvived attack | During the 60s and 70s showbands were without a doubt the most effective fighting force against sectarianism on this island Stephen TraversSurvived attack |
| Two surviving members of the band, Des McAlea and Stephen Travers, attended the unveiling of the memorial. | |
| Mr Travers said it was a fitting way to remember his bandmates. | Mr Travers said it was a fitting way to remember his bandmates. |
| "We mustn't forget that during the 60s and 70s showbands were, without a doubt, the most effective fighting force against sectarianism on this island," he said. | "We mustn't forget that during the 60s and 70s showbands were, without a doubt, the most effective fighting force against sectarianism on this island," he said. |
| Three band members were shot dead after a van bomb exploded | Three band members were shot dead after a van bomb exploded |
| "They were a great antidote to the poison of the bigots and the evil of the people who tried to drive a wedge between the communities." | "They were a great antidote to the poison of the bigots and the evil of the people who tried to drive a wedge between the communities." |
| Margaret Irwin from the Dublin-based victims' group, Justice for the Forgotten, has campaigned for the memorial. | Margaret Irwin from the Dublin-based victims' group, Justice for the Forgotten, has campaigned for the memorial. |
| "It is going to be a very important event for the families who have looked forward to this for quite a long time," she said. | "It is going to be a very important event for the families who have looked forward to this for quite a long time," she said. |
| "It is reinforced by the fact that members of the families will travel from Canada and from South Africa." | "It is reinforced by the fact that members of the families will travel from Canada and from South Africa." |
| The Lord Mayor of Dublin, Paddy Bourke, accompanied the taoiseach at the unveiling of the limestone, bronze and granite piece created by Donegal artist Redmond Herrity. | |
| The event also included an inter-denominational prayer service led by Father Brian D'Arcy and the Reverend Robert Dean, a Church of Ireland Minister from Swords. |