Irish Republican News · June 18, 2007

‘Real IRA’ admits McGurk killing

A breakaway republican paramilitary group has admitted responsibility for the murder of a father-of-five in west Belfast four years ago, saying the killing was “criminally wrong”.

In a statement the Real IRA said it had conducted a 12-month internal investigation into the murder of 35-year-old Danny McGurk.

The group said Mr McGurk had been an innocent civilian and offered its “sincere condolences” to his family and friends for a killing initially protrayed as a punishment attack.

The McGurk family was informed of the statement during a meeting in west Belfast.

Mr McGurk’s mother Mary, three sisters and brother had been asked to attend a meeting during which a representative of the Real IRA apologised for the murder.

Just months before the murder, Mr McGurk had been involved in a disagreement with some members of the Real IRA in a west Belfast pub.

An inquest into the murder in September heard there had been 10 arrests but no-one was charged.

The Real IRA statement said: “After a prolonged internal investigation over the past 12 months by the leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann, we have concluded the finding that the murder of Danny McGurk, an innocent civilian, was criminally wrong and detracted from the goal of Irish liberation.

“The leadership of Oglaigh na hEireann offer their sincere condolences to the entire McGurk family and friends and unequivocally apologise to them for the murder of their loved one.”

Mr McGurk’s sister Geraldine said her family were “very happy” with the statement but said they would be pursuing convictions.

“My mother is glad she got the apology before she died,” she said. “We got a phone call to meet them and we listened to what they had to say. Danny’s death had a big impact on the family. It was very traumatic. For us, we still want justice.”

ARMAGH ATTACK

Meanwhile, there were claims of a blast bomb attack on a PSNI police land rover in Armagh City last weekend. It was reported that on the night of Saturday 9th June, a hurled device exploded on impact, damaging the front of the PSNI vehicle.

A statement of responsibility was subsequently made to a Belfast newsroom in the name of the Continuity IRA.

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