Relatives for Justice welcomes the decision in London’s Supreme Court today on the cases of Martin McCaughey and Dessie Grew – below is the statment from the Families’ solicitors Madden and Finucane Solicitors

Supreme Court Victory for Families of State Killings

18 May 2011 —

The Families of Martin McCaughey and Dessie Grew, killed by the SAS in October 1990, won a major victory in the Supreme Court today.  The case was taken because the PSNI had tried to prevent the Coroner from investigating the planning of the operation by the SAS which lead to the deaths.  The Supreme Court, by a majority of 6:1 has now ruled that the Families can rely upon their Article 2 rights which means that the Inquest must not only investigate whether individual soldiers acted unlawfully in shooting Martin McCaughey and Dessie Grew but must also fully and thoroughly investigate allegations of a shoot to kill operation by the SAS.

Fearghal Shiels of Madden & Finucane, Solicitors which successfully brought the case on behalf of both Families said:

“This decision represents a major victory for the Families, not just in this case but in other historic inquests in which the State is implicated.  It means that where allegations of a shoot to kill policy have been made these must be thoroughly investigated by the Coroner.  The families of Gervaise McKerr, Eugene Toman and Sean Burns, whose deaths were investigated by the Stalker-Sampson team will benefit from this far-reaching ruling as will many others.”

Peter McCaughey, Martin McCaughey’s brother, speaking on behalf of his mother, the Applicant in these proceedings welcomed the decision:

“Our family have always believed that our brother Martin was deliberately targeted and murdered by members of the SAS. We have waited over 20 years for an Inquest into Martin’s death and at last we will have an inquest which investigates not only whether individual soldiers unlawfully killed my brother, but whether the SAS deliberately set out to kill Martin and Dessie Grew.  We hope, now that any restrictions on the scope of the Coroner’s investigation have been lifted that we will finally get justice for Martin and Dessie.”