A Sinn Féin MLA who gave evidence to an inquiry set up after Aidan McAnespie was shot dead by the British army has urged the Irish government to release the unpublished findings.
Colm Gildernew added his voice to the calls for the report to be made public as the family of the Co Tyrone man prepare to mark the 30th anniversary of his death next Wednesday.
Mr McAnespie was shot dead after passing through a British army checkpoint as he made his way to Aghaloo’s GAC’s grounds near Aughnacloy on February 21, 1988.
The Sinn Féin assembly member last night revealed he was one of the first people on the scene after Mr McAnespie was killed.
The 23-year-old’s killing sparked anger in nationalist circles and prompted the then Irish government to appoint Garda deputy commissioner Eugene Crowley to investigate the killing.
The results of the investigation were received by the then justice minister Gerry Collins in April 1988, but have never been published.
The Dublin government has claimed 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 it.
Mr Gildernew last night said the McAnespie family “have waited too long for the full details of his death to be released”.
“I gave evidence in the hope of helping the family get truth and justice in relation to Aidan's killing,” he said.
“I am happy to have the evidence I supplied made public and I would encourage others who participated to call for the release of this information.”
The McAnespie family has asked anyone who gave evidence to the Crowley Inquiry to contact them or their legal team at KRW Law.
