Northern Ireland

Loyalist gun attack survivor takes launches legal action against police

Peter McCormack was shot dead at the Thierafurth Inn, Kilcoo, Co Down, by the UVF in November 1992
Peter McCormack was shot dead at the Thierafurth Inn, Kilcoo, Co Down, by the UVF in November 1992

A man who escaped a loyalist gun attack in Co Down almost 25 years ago has launched legal action over allegations that police have failed to re-investigate the case.

One man, Peter McCormack (42), was shot dead at the Thierafurth Inn in Kilcoo after a UVF gang burst into the bar in November 1992, while several others were injured.

Some of those thought to be involved have also been linked to the 1994 Loughinisland massacre in which six Catholic men were shot dead as they watched a World Cup match in a bar.

A report by the Police Ombudsman published last year found there was collusion between some police and the UVF killers in the Loughinland case.

One of the Thierafurth Inn suspects was a UDR member who was arrested by police investigating the Loughinisland murders in August 1994 after an arms find near Saintfield in Co Down.

After the Loughinisland report was published solicitors for people injured in the Thierafurth Inn asked to PSNI to re-investigate their case.

They claim the PSNI has failed to agree to the request and one victim has now launched a judicial review in Belfast.

The man's legal representative, Gavin Booth of KRW Law, said there now needs to be a independent investigation in light of the Loughinisland report.

The PSNI did not respond to requests for a comment.

Gavin Booth
Gavin Booth