4 March 1999 Edition
Mother of Peter Ward to unveil plaque
BY Peadar Whelan
Mary Ward, the widowed mother of Peter Ward who was shot dead by the UVF in 1966 in what is regarded as the first death of the present conflict told AP/RN of her disquiet at seeing Gusty Spence interviewed on the BBC programme Loyalists.
Speaking to AP/RN in advance of a commemoration ceremony in Beechmount, West Belfast on Sunday when she will unveil a plaque in memory of those killed in the conflict Mrs Ward said she didn't ``believe Spence had shown any remorse for his UVF activities. It was hard to watch him, he seems as bitter as ever''.
Mrs Ward explained that Spence contacted her and asked her to forgive him. ``I said that if it helped bring peace I would forgive him but I don't think he is living up to his word''.
Mrs Ward said that Spence had gone out looking for murder that night in June 1966 because the UVF had gone to the house of veteran republican Leo Martin in Baden Powell Street, off the Oldpark Road, to kill Martin but he wasn't there so they set fire to the house.
>From there the UVF gang went to dump their weapons then went on to the Malvern Arms where Peter Ward and some friends were drinking.
Spence and his gang suspected the group were Catholics returned to their dump to retrieve their weapons. 18 year old Peter Ward was the first to leave the bar and was shot.
``He was dead before he hit the ground'', states Mary Ward.
At that time another man John Scullion was found dead in the Clonard area of Belfast. Initially it was thought he had been stabbed but when his body was exhumed after the Ward killing it was found he was shot dead.
It is now thought Mr Scullion was killed by the same UVF squad that killed Peter Ward.
The Beechmount Commemoration will commence at 1.30pm at the mural in Beechmount Avenue, then parade around the district to Locan Street where the unveiling will take place.
Mary Ward, the widowed mother of Peter Ward who was shot dead by the UVF in 1966 in what is regarded as the first death of the present conflict told AP/RN of her disquiet at seeing Gusty Spence interviewed on the BBC programme Loyalists.
Speaking to AP/RN in advance of a commemoration ceremony in Beechmount, West Belfast on Sunday when she will unveil a plaque in memory of those killed in the conflict Mrs Ward said she didn't ``believe Spence had shown any remorse for his UVF activities. It was hard to watch him, he seems as bitter as ever''.
Mrs Ward explained that Spence contacted her and asked her to forgive him. ``I said that if it helped bring peace I would forgive him but I don't think he is living up to his word''.
Mrs Ward said that Spence had gone out looking for murder that night in June 1966 because the UVF had gone to the house of veteran republican Leo Martin in Baden Powell Street, off the Oldpark Road, to kill Martin but he wasn't there so they set fire to the house.
>From there the UVF gang went to dump their weapons then went on to the Malvern Arms where Peter Ward and some friends were drinking.
Spence and his gang suspected the group were Catholics returned to their dump to retrieve their weapons. 18 year old Peter Ward was the first to leave the bar and was shot.
``He was dead before he hit the ground'', states Mary Ward.
At that time another man John Scullion was found dead in the Clonard area of Belfast. Initially it was thought he had been stabbed but when his body was exhumed after the Ward killing it was found he was shot dead.
It is now thought Mr Scullion was killed by the same UVF squad that killed Peter Ward.
The Beechmount Commemoration will commence at 1.30pm at the mural in Beechmount Avenue, then parade around the district to Locan Street where the unveiling will take place.