Opinion

Paul Bradley's family deserve justice 30 years on

The tragedy of our troubled past and the legacy of decades of bloodshed is not just the terrible loss of so many lives but also the suffering that has been inflicted on bereaved families.

Countless lives have been devastated by murder with thousands of people carrying the pain of loss every single day.

For many, this pain has been compounded by a lack of information, a police failure to fully investigate or a state delaying or obstructing the pursuit of justice.

Some relatives are seeking answers, others want someone held to account while many are determined to make sure a loved one is not forgotten.

Such was the level of violence during those dark times that hardly a week goes by without an anniversary of a horrific deed, each year another milestone for a grieving family.

This week the family of Paul Bradley, who was murdered just over 30 years ago, has made a heartfelt appeal for information.

The circumstances of this man's death are profoundly chilling.

Mr Bradley, a 30-year-old Catholic, was savagely beaten to death in a bar full of customers.

A loyalist gang used a chair, pool cues and broken pint glasses to attack him, leaving their victim with a skull shattered in nine places.

He died in hospital three days later having never regained consciousness.

Mr Bradley's family had high hopes their brother's killer would be brought to justice.

Not only had this brutal murder taken place in a crowded bar but just an hour after the attack three men were arrested. Blood was found on their clothing and there was other forensic evidence.

The three were charged with murder but the charges were later dropped with prosecutors saying there was no reasonable prospect of securing a conviction.

The RUC told the family witnesses in the bar were too frightened to testify and investigators met with a `wall of silence.'

Mr Bradley's family are realistic about the threat from paramilitaries, especially at that time. They know that Lisburn was `a frightening place for Catholics' and that witnesses were fearful.

Michael Bradley is hopeful that 30 years on, someone who was in the bar when his brother was attacked will feel able to come forward.

The family cannot imagine that anyone who saw this horrendous crime could ever forget it. Essentially they are appealing to the consciences of those who witnessed a murder, asking them to do the right thing.

It has to be said that this troubling case also raises serious questions for the police and legal authorities.

Thirty years on, it is not too late to ensure justice is done in the case of Paul Bradley.