THE family of a man who survived a loyalist gun attack that claimed the lives of his two sons and brother, have voiced concerns over controversial British government legacy proposals as they gathered to mark his 100th birthday.
Barney O’Dowd, one of the oldest surviving victims of the Troubles, marked the milestone on Wednesday surrounded by some of his surviving children.
Mr O’Dowd’s family suffered devastating loss when they were caught up in one of the darkest periods of the Troubles almost 50 years ago.
In January 1976 his two sons Barry (24) and Declan (19) died along with their uncle Joe O'Dowd (61), after armed and masked loyalists burst into their home at Ballydougan near Gilford, Co Down, during a family get together.
A sing-along was under way when the killers struck.
Mr O'Dowd, who was then aged 52, was left with serious injuries after being shot five times during the attack, which was linked to the notorious Glenanne Gang.
The murder squad, which included members of the RUC, UDR and UVF, is believed to have been responsible for killing around 120 people during its sectarian murder campaign.
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One of those believed to have been responsible for the O'Dowd attack was Robin 'the Jackal' Jackson, a prolific killer and suspected state agent.
Just minutes before the O’Dowd family home was targeted members of the gang launched a similar attack at the Reavey homestead at Whitecross in south Armagh.
John Martin Reavey (24) and his brother Brian (22) were killed as they watched TV while a third brother, 17-year-old Anthony, was injured after he tried to hide under a bed.
The teenager died several weeks later.
The next day 10 Protestant men were shot dead near Kingsmill, south Armagh, as they travelled home from work.
The attack was later claimed by a group calling itself the South Armagh Republican Action Force, which it claimed was in reprisal for the Reavey and O’Dowd murders.
In the aftermath of the attack that claimed the lives of her sons, a deeply traumatised Kathleen O’Dowd persuaded her husband to leave the house they had shared since 1953 and start a new life in Co Meath.
Mr O’Dowd’s son Noel was 22 when his brothers were shot dead.
He was fortunate to escape death or injury himself when his mother ordered him to attend evening Mass in Craigavon after he missed his weekly obligation on the morning of the attack.
He arrived home shortly after his brothers and uncle had been killed.
He explained how his mother was desperate to leave the north.
“He (Barney) was a milkman all his life but my mother made him make that decision to leave because she was so traumatised and she was so afraid of one of us, as surviving sons, getting involved, or even afraid they would come back and finish off the job,” he said.
“It was a massive thing to leave their home.”
Noel told how his father left behind a thriving coal business.
“His working life was effectively over at 52, he had to give away his business,” he said.
“He started buying a bit of land down there (Meath) and he specialised in horses, had a few cattle, and made a life for himself.”
Noel explained how Mr O'Dowd suffered his own trauma after his sons were brutally murdered.
As the years passed the callous events left a huge mark on the O’Dowd family resulting in a difficult decision to exhume the remains of Barry and Declan and reinter them in Co Meath.
On a late August morning in 2000 members of the family gathered at the graveyard adjacent to St Colman’s Church in Clare, a short distance from their old home.
As Barney looked on the small group tenderly turned over the Co Down sod that had covered Declan and Barry for the past 24 years.
The O'Dowds were helped that day by an old neighbour Eamon Cairns, whose own sons Gerard (22) and Rory (18), were shot dead by UVF in their home in October 1993.
The O'Dowd brothers were reburied in Monkstown Cemetery in Navan, Co Meath, beside their mother Kathleen, who had died in 1999.
The inscription on their headstone, which was left in place at Clare graveyard, states that the brothers were "murdered for their faith....by the enemies of all that is Christian and Irish".
Noel O'Dowd is critical of controversial British government proposals on the future of legacy investigations, which include plans to end civil cases and some inquests.
"We are not very happy about it because we believe somebody like Barney who is 100, one of the oldest surviving victims, he has waited nearly 48 years and there's going to be a lot more people who reach that landmark," he said.
"And if the British government suddenly decides it's all over, there's no answers. I don't think it's right or justified."
Mr O'Dowd's daughter Eleanor O'Sullivan, who helps care for her father, said her family deserves answers.
"We have a right to truth and justice and we want to see an independent truth recovery process that is compliant with international human rights standards," she said.
Mr O'Dowd's children also paid tribute to former English police chief Jon Boutcher whose Operation Kenova team is currently carrying out a review of the Glenanne Gang's activities.
Another son Cathal O'Dowd, who was in the family home when the killers struck, believes there was collusion.
"The IRA were on ceasefire and Robin Jackson wasn't doing this on his own, he was directed," he claimed.
"What was the objective?"
He questioned why Catholics were being targeted when the IRA at the time were on ceasefire.
"That makes no sense to me in any shape, form or fashion.
"The only conclusion you can come to is that the establishment wanted the war to continue."
A letter, including a handwritten note from President Michael D Higgins, takes pride of place in the Co Meath home of Mr O'Dowd's daughter Eleanor.
A stack of unopened birthday cards on the kitchen table will soon take their place beside well wishes already received from all corners of Ireland this week.
Although frail, Barney remains alert as he took centre stage during Wednesday's celebrations.
Noel revealed how his father always maintained the secret to a long life is to remain active - he continued to drive and cut his own hedges until well into his 90s.
In 2013 at the age of 90 he even took part in a Strictly Come Dancing competition with a group of 20 year olds at his local GAA club, Moynalvey GFC.
"He is a great man, everywhere I go people say to me, 'you're da is a great man' and he is," Noel said.
"His spirit is incredible and he has always maintained a zest for life, while other people were tired and maybe happy to die, he wanted to live.
"He was a great family man and had very high standards.
"My mother died 23 years ago and he has been very resolute since then."
His son Cathal added that their father "never let bitterness consume him".
