THE chairman of the Tyrone GAA board has added his voice to calls for the Irish government to release an unpublished report into the British army killing of Aidan McAnespie.
The 23-year-old was shot dead after he passed through a checkpoint while on his way to Aghaloo GAA grounds near Aughnacloy in February 1998.
After Mr McAnespie’s death the Irish government appointed then Garda deputy commissioner Eugene Crowley to carry out an inquiry.
The findings were presented to justice minister Gerry Collins in April 1988 but have never been made public.
High-profile GAA figures, including the association's director general Páraic Duffy, recently called on the Irish government to release the report.
The chairman of the Tyrone county board, Michael Kerr, has now also called for it report to be published.
“I endorse the request for the report to be released and, while disappointed with the initial response made to the Ard Stiúrthóir's (director general’s) request, I encourage the Irish government to explore all available editorial mechanisms which will facilitate the early release of the fullest version of the Crowley report,” he said.
The Irish government has said that some of those who gave evidence to Mr Crowley did so on the assurance of confidentiality and anonymity and for this reason it is not possible to publish the report.
