11 November 1999 Edition
Shoot to kill - A search for justice
By Pádraig MacDabhaid
The 1980 RUC killing of Volunteer Teddy O'Neill took place before the onset of what is now termed the RUC's shoot-to-kill policy. However, since the family began to push for truth and justice, it has been revealed that the killing was a British state-sponsored shoot to kill operation for which nobody has ever been called to answer.
Twenty-three-year-old Teddy O'Neill was on active service on Tuesday 1 July 1980. A statement issued by the IRA's Belfast Brigade after O'Neill's murder read: ``The events leading up to his death are as follows. For some months gangs of organised criminal elements have been terrorising the working people of Belfast. After many appeals from local people to us, we decided to punish a key figure within this group''.
O'Neill was one of two Volunteers who carried out the punishment shooting at around 9pm near the Ballymurphy Tenants Association on the Whiterock Road. As the Volunteers made their getaway they ran from behind a building towards the Whiterock Road. Both men were hooded and had one pistol between them, which was concealed. As they ran towards the road they ran into an RUC patrol which was waiting on the road with guns aimed. The RUC opened fire without warning. The two Volunteers attempted to escape.
One eye-witness, Danny McCormick, said: ``I saw several RUC men firing from behind a Land Rover in the direction of the two men who were running away from them. One of the men fell wounded, although he was still alive. I saw him moving.
``Then one of the RUC men ran over to where the man was lying. He stood over and fired two shots from his rifle into the man on the ground.''
The man on the ground was Volunteer Teddy O'Neill.
The fact that the RUC opened fire without warning is an issue in itself. However, from an examination of the issues surrounding O'Neill's death, it would appear that the RUC had planned his killing and awaited the right time to do so.
O'Neill had been on the run for five years before he was shot dead. One year before his death he was in a house when it was raided. As he escaped, the RUC fired after him, obviously trying to kill him.
Three weeks before his killing, he was arrested and taken to Castlereagh interrogation centre and questioned about his role in the guard of honour for the funeral of his friend Volunteer Kevin ``Dee'' Delaney. He was released from Castlereagh and as he was leaving one of the RUC officers said: ``We're letting you out to kill you.''
Speaking to An Phoblacht, Teddy O'Neill's sister, Dolores Craig, said: ``His release raises serious questions. Why would the RUC have released him so quickly after chasing him for five years. A year before they were prepared to shoot him on sight. If they wanted him bad enough to shoot him then why did they release him from Castlereagh?''
Another issue raised by the killing was what happened in the missing hours after his death. Taxi-driver Jim Murphy, who was a witness to the killing, said: ``Two RUC men carrying rifles ran towards the man lying in the middle of the street. They each grabbed one of his arms and ran trailing him behind them a distance of about 30 yards. They then lifted the body and tossed it into the back of the jeep as if it was a bit of meat.'' This occurred at 9pm but the family was not notified of the murder until 1.30am.
Dolores Craig said: ``At the inquest, we were not told who fired the fatal shots, nobody showed up to give evidence, and only statements were read out. Danny McCormick and Jim Murphy were not asked to give evidence. They were never questioned by the RUC, and the RUC never investigated Teddy's murder.''
Speaking of her hopes for the future, she said: ``At the time of the inquest, we knew something unjust had been done but like many people at the time, we didn't know what to do or what could be done. We have now begun to look into the circumstances surrounding his murder more closely and are hoping that some of the relatives groups will be able to highlight our case for truth and justice. If anything can be done, we will do it.''
The 1980 RUC killing of Volunteer Teddy O'Neill took place before the onset of what is now termed the RUC's shoot-to-kill policy. However, since the family began to push for truth and justice, it has been revealed that the killing was a British state-sponsored shoot to kill operation for which nobody has ever been called to answer.
Twenty-three-year-old Teddy O'Neill was on active service on Tuesday 1 July 1980. A statement issued by the IRA's Belfast Brigade after O'Neill's murder read: ``The events leading up to his death are as follows. For some months gangs of organised criminal elements have been terrorising the working people of Belfast. After many appeals from local people to us, we decided to punish a key figure within this group''.
O'Neill was one of two Volunteers who carried out the punishment shooting at around 9pm near the Ballymurphy Tenants Association on the Whiterock Road. As the Volunteers made their getaway they ran from behind a building towards the Whiterock Road. Both men were hooded and had one pistol between them, which was concealed. As they ran towards the road they ran into an RUC patrol which was waiting on the road with guns aimed. The RUC opened fire without warning. The two Volunteers attempted to escape.
One eye-witness, Danny McCormick, said: ``I saw several RUC men firing from behind a Land Rover in the direction of the two men who were running away from them. One of the men fell wounded, although he was still alive. I saw him moving.
``Then one of the RUC men ran over to where the man was lying. He stood over and fired two shots from his rifle into the man on the ground.''
The man on the ground was Volunteer Teddy O'Neill.
The fact that the RUC opened fire without warning is an issue in itself. However, from an examination of the issues surrounding O'Neill's death, it would appear that the RUC had planned his killing and awaited the right time to do so.
O'Neill had been on the run for five years before he was shot dead. One year before his death he was in a house when it was raided. As he escaped, the RUC fired after him, obviously trying to kill him.
Three weeks before his killing, he was arrested and taken to Castlereagh interrogation centre and questioned about his role in the guard of honour for the funeral of his friend Volunteer Kevin ``Dee'' Delaney. He was released from Castlereagh and as he was leaving one of the RUC officers said: ``We're letting you out to kill you.''
Speaking to An Phoblacht, Teddy O'Neill's sister, Dolores Craig, said: ``His release raises serious questions. Why would the RUC have released him so quickly after chasing him for five years. A year before they were prepared to shoot him on sight. If they wanted him bad enough to shoot him then why did they release him from Castlereagh?''
Another issue raised by the killing was what happened in the missing hours after his death. Taxi-driver Jim Murphy, who was a witness to the killing, said: ``Two RUC men carrying rifles ran towards the man lying in the middle of the street. They each grabbed one of his arms and ran trailing him behind them a distance of about 30 yards. They then lifted the body and tossed it into the back of the jeep as if it was a bit of meat.'' This occurred at 9pm but the family was not notified of the murder until 1.30am.
Dolores Craig said: ``At the inquest, we were not told who fired the fatal shots, nobody showed up to give evidence, and only statements were read out. Danny McCormick and Jim Murphy were not asked to give evidence. They were never questioned by the RUC, and the RUC never investigated Teddy's murder.''
Speaking of her hopes for the future, she said: ``At the time of the inquest, we knew something unjust had been done but like many people at the time, we didn't know what to do or what could be done. We have now begun to look into the circumstances surrounding his murder more closely and are hoping that some of the relatives groups will be able to highlight our case for truth and justice. If anything can be done, we will do it.''