Donegal Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Mac Lochlainn calls on councillors to support motion in support of Henry Cunningham family

Published: 7 June, 2006

Sinn Féin Donegal County Cllr Pádraig Mac Lochlainn has called on his fellow councillors to back a motion of support for the family of murdered teenager,
Henry Cunningham, when they meet this coming Monday the12th of June.

Henry Cunningham from Carndonagh was murdered by the UVF in August 9th 1973.

The motion reads:

"That this Council conveys our support to the family of the late Henry Cunningham from Carndonagh, in their ongoing efforts to establish the truth behind his murder and calls on the British and Irish Government to fully assist the family in their endeavours".

Cllr Mac Lochlainn said:

"On August 9th 1973, Henry Cunningham, a 16-year-old Presbyterian from Carndonagh, Co Donegal, was shot dead by the UVF as he travelled home from work in Belfast. On the night of the murder five other men, including some of Henry's brothers, in the Co Donegal registered van gave statements to the RUC in Antrim. It was the only time in 32 years that any member of the RUC, the Gardai, the British or Irish governments ever spoke to the Cunningham's about Henry's death.

"Even more astonishing is the fact that the inquest into his murder took place at Antrim Town Hall just three weeks after the shooting. Belfast Coroner's court have said the current average time between murder and inquest - if there are no arrests - is eight to 12 months. So why was this inquest rushed and why did the Irish Government do apparently absolutely nothing about the murder of one of its citizens? This is a very important question as recent information has revealed the extent of collusion between loyalist paramilitaries and British state forces.

"The reality according to the Pat Finucane human rights' centre (PFC) is that the three-week gap between murder and inquest demonstrated that Henry's murder had a "zero investigation". This is shocking. The Cunningham family have been badly let down by both Governments.

"In 1999, Henry's brothers were working on St Columba's church in Long Tower in Derry when someone told them that a visiting priest had a copy of a new book which they should look at. In the book, Lost Lives, loyalist sources claimed the UVF was responsible for Henry's murder. Imagine that Henry's family learnt more from a few lines in a book than they had in over 30 years from the two states".

"This motion before Donegal County Council next Monday is intended as a belated gesture of support from the elected representatives of the people of Donegal to the family in their ongoing support for truth and justice and I call on my fellow councillors to back it."