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Calls for Annie's Bar massacre investigation to be re-opened

Five men were murdered when loyalist paramilitaries opened fire on Annie's Bar in December 1972. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin
Five men were murdered when loyalist paramilitaries opened fire on Annie's Bar in December 1972. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin Five men were murdered when loyalist paramilitaries opened fire on Annie's Bar in December 1972. Picture by Margaret McLaughlin

THE wife of a man killed in one of the worst loyalist massacres in Derry has called for the investigation into her husband’s death to be re-opened.

Five men, four Catholics and one Protestant, were shot dead when loyalist paramilitaries, believed to be the UDA, opened fire on Annie’s Bar in Derry’s Top of the Hill on December 20 1972. No-one has ever been convicted of the killings which occurred as one of the worst year of the Troubles drew to a close.

Four people were also injured in the attack when the gunmen fired up to 20 shots into the bar which was packed with Christmas drinkers.

The five men killed in the attack were: Bernard Kelly (26), Frank McCarron (58), Charles McCafferty (32), Charles Moore (31) and 37 year-old Michael McGinley.

The 45th anniversary of the attack was marked with a service at St Columb's Church in Derry's Waterside on Tuesday.

Now, Bernard Kelly’s wife has called on authorities to re-open the investigation into the murders.

Marie Kelly, who was pregnant at the time, said the victim’s relatives had many unanswered questions.

"There are plenty of cases like ours that people have not found out anything at all. At least then you would know that justice has been done for five lives that should never been taken.

"It is horrendous that there are people out there who know, but I always say they have to live with it. It must be on their mind all the time," she said.