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Police and defence ministry asked to pay damages in legacy cases

Mark SimpsonCommunity correspondent, BBC News NI
News imagePacemaker From right to left: Darragh Mackin from Phoenix Law, Eugene Reavey, Brendan Farmer and Gavin Booth from Phoenix Law appeared at Belfast High Court on Friday. The two men stand in the middle, with Mr Mackin and Mr Booth from Phoenix Law standing either side. Pacemaker
Eugene Reavey (second from right) and Brendan Farmer (second from left) attended the hearing at Belfast Crown Court on Friday

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) and the police have been asked to pay costs over delays in two legacy civil cases before the High Court in Belfast.

The application was made by lawyers acting for two families whose relatives were killed in south Armagh in the mid-1970s by loyalist paramilitaries from the so-called Glenanne gang.

One of the cases which has been delayed is being taken by Eugene Reavey. Three of his brothers were killed at their home in County Armagh in 1976.

The judge in the civil case, Mr Justice Rooney, heard arguments on the costs issue on Friday and said he will deliver his judgement on Tuesday.

It was confirmed the full hearing of the civil case, which was supposed to happen this month, will now not take place until April.

The postponement is due to the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the MoD not yet making sensitive documents available, for legal reasons.

'I'm not fit to do it anymore'

Mr Reavey, 78, who was in court, expressed his frustration afterwards with the delays.

The 50th anniversary of the deaths of his three brothers is next month.

He said: "I always thought I would have this thing put to bed long before the anniversary and we could call it a day after that.

"Personally, I'm wore out… up and down the road to solicitors and courts. I'm not fit to do it anymore."

News imageA close-up image of Eugene Reavey. He is an older man with medium-length white hair. He is wearing a pair of metal framed glasses and a grey checked suit jacket and waistcoat. He is also wearing a white shirt and a blue patterned tie. He is standing outside the Belfast High Court.
Eugene Reavey said the delays have left him tired and worn down

The families have been suing the PSNI and MoD over alleged collusion in the murder of their relatives.

Another case which has been delayed relates to the killing of Sean Farmer, one of two GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) fans killed in south Armagh in 1975.

The Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) unit known as the Glenanne gang has been blamed for around 120 killings in the 1970s.

The gang's principal base was a farm in the County Armagh village of Glenanne, which belonged to a Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) officer.

It has been alleged the gang's members included other police officers, as well as soldiers in the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR).

Three of Eugene Reavey's brothers - Anthony, 17, Brian, 22, and John Martin, 24 - were killed in an attack at their family home in Whitecross in January 1976.