The families of two victims of the British state and its forces during the conflict have secured major legal victories after decades of campaigning for justice.

The family of John Pat Cunningham, a vulnerable young man shot dead by British soldiers in Benburb, County Tyrone, has secured an undisclosed damages settlement against the British Ministry of Defence.

At the same time, south Armagh man Eugene Reavey has secured what is believed to be the largest legacy settlement of its kind after reaching a £400,000 agreement with the British Crown Forces over the murders of his three brothers and the treatment of his family in the aftermath.

The cases come after years of families challenging the official narrative around killings during the conflict and demanding recognition of what happened to their loved ones.

John Pat Cunningham was just 27 years old when he was shot dead after encountering members of the British Army’s Life Guards regiment near his home in Benburb in June 1974.

Mr Cunningham had learning difficulties and was described as having the mental age of a child. His family said he had a deep and well-known fear of men in uniform.

John Pat was walking home after volunteering at a local church when he came across British soldiers. Frightened, he ran away into a nearby field, where he was pursued and shot in the back.

One former British soldier, Dennis Hutchings, died while on trial charged with the killing.

For decades, the family fought against a false portrayal of John Pat and the circumstances of his death.

His nephew Charlie Agnew said the civil settlement finally placed the focus back on the victim.

“Dennis Hutchings had all the headlines, but the real victim in this was pushed aside,” Mr Agnew said.

“John Pat was wrongly accused of all sorts of stuff, but today I can stand here on the steps of the court and say he was totally innocent.”

Mr Agnew said John Pat’s fear of uniforms had been ignored for years.

He said his uncle had a “pathological” fear of those wearing uniforms and was simply trying to get home when he was killed.

“All the people who said things about him in the past need to take a look at themselves,” he added.

The family’s lawyer Kevin Winters said the settlement represented recognition of what the family had fought for.

“While no sum of money can ever remedy the loss they have suffered, they have been vindicated by the conclusion of these proceedings,” he said.

“It provides a measure of recognition and accountability which they have long sought. JP Cunningham has been completely exonerated.”

Reavey family secures apology, settlement

The Cunningham settlement came as another family from the heart of nationalist south Armagh secured recognition after almost 50 years of fighting for answers.

Eugene Reavey reached settlements worth £400,000 with the PSNI police and British Ministry of Defence over the murders of his brothers John Martin, Brian and Anthony Reavey in January 1976.

The three brothers were shot by loyalist gunmen at the family home in Whitecross, County Armagh.

John Martin, 25, and Brian, 22, were killed immediately. Anthony, 17, died later from his injuries.

The killings happened during one of the darkest periods of the conflict, in the same month as the Kingsmills massacre.

For years, Eugene Reavey campaigned over allegations of collusion between loyalist killers and members of the British security forces.

The settlement included a £175,000 payment from the PSNI and £225,000 from the MoD.

An apology was also issued on behalf of PSNI Chief Jon Boutcher, accepting failures by members of the former RUC and acknowledging that their behaviour may have contributed to the murders and the suffering caused to the Reavey family.

It also accepted that the Reavey brothers had no involvement whatsoever in paramilitary or terrorist activity.

Speaking after the settlement, Eugene Reavey said he believed he had secured as much justice as he could after half a century of struggle.

“I think that after all these years, 50 years now, that I’ve finally got as much justice as I’m going to get,” he said.

He said the acknowledgement that his brothers were innocent victims was important for the family.

“The Chief Constable said that my brothers were totally innocent victims. There was no paramilitary involvement with them or with any other members of our family. We were a completely innocent family.”

But he rejected the idea that any settlement could bring closure.

“Closure is a word that I don’t understand because tomorrow morning I still won’t have my brothers,” he said.

“There’s no such thing as closure for a family that has lost siblings.

“I still don’t have my brothers, I don’t have them in my life, or their children — my nieces or nephews they would have had.”

During the legal proceedings, Mr Reavey alleged that members of the British Army and police were involved in the events surrounding the murders.

Mr Reavey also spoke of the treatment he experienced after the murders, alleging that British soldiers forced him into a river, held him at gunpoint and repeatedly questioned him about the Kingsmills massacre despite him having no involvement or knowledge of it.

He said he suffered trauma, nightmares and years of disturbed sleep as a result.

Despite the personal pain, Mr Reavey said he believed the outcome could help other families seeking truth and accountability.

“I absolutely think this sets a standard. This has been the biggest settlement ever in a legacy case.

“It’s the first time we’ve got a chief constable ever offering an apology in such a detailed manner and I think the floodgates have now opened for all victims.

“I don’t think there’ll be many more cases. I think a lot of people will be able to follow our case now and they’ll be settled.”