Commenting on the British Prime Minister’s apology to the families of the Springhill Massacre, Leas-Uachtarán Michelle O’Neill said, “The British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s apology to the families of those killed by the British Army in the Springhill massacre on 9 July 1972 – Fr Noel Fitzpatrick, Patrick Butler, John Dougal, David McCafferty and Margaret Gargan – is an important acknowledgement of the suffering endured by these families over many decades.
“Nothing can undo the pain and loss experienced by those who lost loved ones that day. But acknowledgment matters. The Springhill families deserve the truth, and they deserve to have that truth publicly recognised.
“The Springhill families now join the families of Bloody Sunday and Ballymurphy, whose determined campaigns secured official findings and public acknowledgement of the circumstances surrounding the deaths of their loved ones.
“These moments matter not only because they recognise individual loss, but because they affirm and expose the actions of the British army against the Springhill community
“While today marks an important and significant moment for the Springhill Families, there remain many families who continue to wait for truth, accountability and acknowledgement where their loved ones were killed as in a manner similar to Bloody Sunday, Ballymurphy and Springhill.
“Every family has the right to know what happened. Every family deserves equal access to truth, justice and accountability.
“The British Government must now end its cruel and cynical approach to legacy. Families seeking to establish the truth about what happened to their loved ones should not be dragged through protracted and painful legal processes, and particularly so when the evidence is clear. The cynical handling of legacy issues from the British Prime Minister, including his prioritisation of the interests of British state forces over victims and families, has undermined confidence in current legacy mechanisms and deepened hurt. If he is serious about dealing with legacy, this approach must end.
“Today belongs to the Springhill Families. Their perseverance over five decades has ensured that the truth has been told and that their loved ones are remembered with dignity, pride and respect.”
