Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly has today described the decision by the British government to deny a public inquiry into the murders of Kevin and John McKearney and Charles and Teresa Fox as ‘outrageous and disgraceful’.

He said:

“The McKearney and Fox family have fought with courage and dignity for over 32 years to establish the full extent of what happened to their loved ones.

“Today’s decision by the British Secretary of State Hilary Benn to deny these families a public inquiry into the murder of their loved ones is absolutely outrageous and disgraceful.

“To date, Bernie McKearney, the wife of the late Kevin, has yet to even receive a death certificate for Mr McKearney, and the British Secretary of State is not forthcoming about how she will obtain one.

“This new British government entered office on a pledge to work with families on an agreed way forward. They have reneged on this promise and are instead continuing on with the same-old British government policy of delay and deny truth and justice to families here.

“It is the clear view of these families that they have no trust or confidence in the ICRIR and in this case the only way to fully establish full truth and justice is through an independent public inquiry. This was also the view of the coroner.

“If the British government is to restore any faith with victims and families here, it must listen to their concerns, fully repeal the shameful Legacy Act and finally stop covering up the disgraceful role of their state agents in the north.”