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Gun-attack survivor calls for independent inquiry

Stewartstown man Johnny Rush was shot in the leg in January 1989 by a loyalist hit squad using the same gun that killed Co Tyrone pensioner Roseann Mallon in 1994  
Stewartstown man Johnny Rush was shot in the leg in January 1989 by a loyalist hit squad using the same gun that killed Co Tyrone pensioner Roseann Mallon in 1994   Stewartstown man Johnny Rush was shot in the leg in January 1989 by a loyalist hit squad using the same gun that killed Co Tyrone pensioner Roseann Mallon in 1994  

A CO Tyrone man who survived a loyalist gun attack 25 years ago has called for an independent inquiry into the activities of the UVF in mid-Ulster.

Stewartstown man Johnny Rush was shot in the leg in January 1989 by a loyalist hit squad using the same gun that killed Co Tyrone pensioner Roseann Mallon in 1994.

The 55-year-old believes the man who tried to kill him was also a member of the UDR - one of several former members of the disbanded British army regiment believed to be involved in the murder of several nationalists in mid-Ulster during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Mr Rush says he was only made aware of the links between his case and others during the roseann Mallon inquest last year.

The same weapon has also been linked to the murder of at least six people including Charles and Theresa Fox shot by the UVF at their home near Moy in Co Tyrone in 1992.

Mr Rush claims that on the day of the attack there was a large UDR presence in the area and a number of houses had been raided by police.

The former Sinn Fein election worker recalled last night how he was chased barefoot through his home and into a nearby field by two UVF men with automatic weapons.

"I had just taken my shoes off and I heard the 'dunt' and knew it was not the police," he said.

"I found out later it was a sledge hammer hitting the door," he said. "I had been threatened by the UDR, police and British army that they were going to kill me."

As he ran through the house with the gunmen giving chase Mr rush said he ducked to avoid a clothesline - a move he believes saved his life as the gunman fired over his head.

He then cleared a 5ft garden fence before rolling down a grass bank where he lay motionless as bullets whizzed over his head.

A second UVF gunman then fired blindly into the field hitting Mr rush on the left leg.

Mr Rush believes all three gunmen were also members of the UDR and said he believes elements of the state were involved the attempt to kill him.

"I would like to get to the truth of this," he said. "Who sent them out, who was pulling the strings? I believe it goes back to the establishment in England, they were only foot soldiers."

He said he has no wish to see charges brought against those who tried to kill him but he called for any inquiry to be judge-led in a bid to get to the truth.