Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly has strongly condemned the British government’s efforts to deny families truth and justice.

Speaking as the inquest into the McKearney and Fox family killings in 1992 had to be stopped, the party’s legacy spokesperson said:

“This attempt by the British government to deny the McKearney and Fox families any form of truth is absolutely outrageous and disgraceful.

“It is essential in any democracy that judicial processes are free to carry out their duties independently, free from state interference.

“The same British Secretary of State who has today denied families finding out the truth of what happened to their loved ones has given himself the power to rule on whether a public inquiry should be granted. This is deeply concerning. 

“This is yet another series of murders where it is believed British state forces were involved in collusion, and the British government has stepped in to deny families any form of truth and justice.

“The shameful Legacy Act has incentivised state bodies to run down the clock and to deny families what they have campaigned for over thirty years.”