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19/06/2008
Donegal Teen's Killing 'Collusion': PSNI
The family of a Protestant Donegal teenager murdered by the UVF 35 years ago have said detectives have found evidence of security force collusion in the case.
The PSNI in Northern Ireland have uncovered a link to the murder of the 16-year-old in Belfast when their Historical Inquiries Team re-examined the killing during a UVF attack on building-site workers in 1973.
Its report into the matter says one of two machine guns used in the attack was stolen from a UDR base in 1972 and intelligence files point to strong evidence of security-force collusion in the weapons theft.
The Cunningham family say they are shocked by the revelation and have criticised the fact that the Irish Government apparently made no representations to the Northern authorities in relation to the murder.
Henry Cunningham was apparently targeted along with his brothers because the UVF thought they were Catholic, but they were in fact Presbyterian.
Henry Cunningham, 16, from Carndonagh, died in August 1973 when loyalist gunmen ambushed the van he was in.
Henry Cunningham was travelling home on the M2 when UVF gunmen opened fire on the van from a motorway bridge.
His older brother Herbert, who was driving, was injured, but a third brother, Robert, was unhurt.
No one has been prosecuted for the murder, and the family believe the case was never fully investigated.
The brothers said the investigation had been a "long and painful process". "Many questions remain unanswered".
"The Historical Enquiries Team (HET) review has however provided us with some answers and with shocking new information about the circumstances of Henry's death," they said.
According to the report, one of the weapons used in the attack had been stolen from a UDR base in Lurgan in 1972.
(BMcC)
The PSNI in Northern Ireland have uncovered a link to the murder of the 16-year-old in Belfast when their Historical Inquiries Team re-examined the killing during a UVF attack on building-site workers in 1973.
Its report into the matter says one of two machine guns used in the attack was stolen from a UDR base in 1972 and intelligence files point to strong evidence of security-force collusion in the weapons theft.
The Cunningham family say they are shocked by the revelation and have criticised the fact that the Irish Government apparently made no representations to the Northern authorities in relation to the murder.
Henry Cunningham was apparently targeted along with his brothers because the UVF thought they were Catholic, but they were in fact Presbyterian.
Henry Cunningham, 16, from Carndonagh, died in August 1973 when loyalist gunmen ambushed the van he was in.
Henry Cunningham was travelling home on the M2 when UVF gunmen opened fire on the van from a motorway bridge.
His older brother Herbert, who was driving, was injured, but a third brother, Robert, was unhurt.
No one has been prosecuted for the murder, and the family believe the case was never fully investigated.
The brothers said the investigation had been a "long and painful process". "Many questions remain unanswered".
"The Historical Enquiries Team (HET) review has however provided us with some answers and with shocking new information about the circumstances of Henry's death," they said.
According to the report, one of the weapons used in the attack had been stolen from a UDR base in Lurgan in 1972.
(BMcC)
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A very mild, but mostly cloudy day, although with some bright or sunny spells. It will be mostly dry in the morning, but a little patchy light rain or drizzle at times in the afternoon. Maximum temperature 14 °C.Tonight:A band of heavier rain will move east during the evening before clearing eastwards after midnight. then mostly dry through the early hours, but a little rain towards dawn. Minimum temperature 8 °C.
