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But along with his friend Jackson, he helped build the UVF in mid-Ulster. Brian McCoy was the first to die, having been hit in the back and neck by nine rounds from a 9mm Luger pistol in the initial volley of gunfire. Two of the gunmen were attempting to plant a time bomb on the vehicle, when it prematurely exploded and killed them. Millionen hochwertiger Bilder, Videos und Musiktracks warten auf Sie. The scene of the Miami Showband Killings on the A1 road at Buskhill in County Down, Northern Ireland, 31st July 1975. [19] John Somerville was born in 1940 into a respectable small farming family from outside Moygashel, Co Tyrone. [5] This move made loyalists apprehensive and suspicious that a secret accord was being conducted between the British government and the IRA, and that Northern Ireland's Protestants would be "sold out". They asked him if he recognised it or could he identify it. [4][22][74] In his book The Dirty War, Martin Dillon adamantly dismissed the allegation that Nairac had been present. [42], When the RUC arrived at the site they found five dead bodies, a seriously injured Stephen Travers, body parts, the smoldering remains of the destroyed minibus, debris from the bomb blast, bullets, spent cartridges and the band members' personal possessions, including clothing, shoes and a photograph of the group, strewn across the area. Boards zijn de beste plekken om beelden en videoclips op te slaan. A UVF patrol led by Major Boyle was suspicious of two vehicles, a minibus and a car parked near the border. Optimieren Sie Ihren Workflow mit unserem erstklassigen Digitalen Asset Management System. In 2005, Somerville attended a ceremony in Portadown honouring his dead brother Wesley. The gunman turned him round, punched him hard in the back and pushed him on the shoulder back into the line-up. A musician who survived the Miami showband massacre has, 40 years on, made an appeal to trace a young couple who helped him at the time. 1,453 Vintage Crime Scene Photos Premium High Res Photos Browse 1,453 vintage crime scene photos stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. He also added that "that bomb was definitely placed there with a view to killing all in that band".[22]. In the ensuing confusion the UVF men opened fire on the band, killing three and wounding two. Mit unserem einfachen Abonnement erhalten Sie Zugriff auf die besten Inhalte von Getty Images. The year 1975 was marked by an escalation in sectarian attacks and a vicious feud between the two main loyalist paramilitary groups, the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and the Ulster Defence Association (UDA). [18] A typical Irish showband was based on the popular six- or seven-member dance band. Crime Scene Photos The Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office released graphics images this week, taken in the aftermath of 27-year-old Christian Obumseli's death. ", And he insisted: "The Lord has forgiven me.". They had seven number one records on the Irish singles chart . [5] Their fears were slightly grounded in fact, as the MI6 officer Michael Oatley was involved in negotiations with a member of the IRA Army Council, during which "structures of disengagement" from Ireland were discussed. [44], McDowell's statement of admission was published in David McKittrick's book Lost Lives:[44]. I was given a sub-machine gun but I had never fired it. He refused to name his accomplices, as he felt that to do so would put the lives of his family in danger. The attack was carried out by loyalist paramilitary group, the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and took place while the group, a popular cabaret band, were travelling home to Dublin after a performance. According to Kerr, on 31 July 1975 at 4 am Nairac had started out on a road journey from London to Scotland for a fishing holiday. [30] The UVF's plan was that the bomb would explode once the minibus had reached Newry, killing all on board. Her brothers Seamus and Michael also died in the attack, which was later claimed by the Protestant Action Force, a cover name for the Mid-Ulster UVF. [13] Dillon suggested that because there were a number of UDR members in the UVF, and were planned to be used for the Miami Showband ambush, Hanna was considered to have been a "security risk", and the UVF decided he had to be killed before he could alert the authorities. In December 1972, Rock left the band to be briefly replaced by two brothers, Frankie and Johnny Simon. Griffin based her theory on the nine bullets that were fired from a Luger into McCoy's body and that Jackson's fingerprints were found on the silencer used for a Luger. After receiving radio confirmation that there were no authorised checkpoints in the area that night, they reported the incident and requested help from the British Army to investigate it, but no action was taken. The three men were sent to serve their sentence in the Maze Prison, on the outskirts of Lisburn. [4], A continued allegation in the case has been the presence of Captain Robert Nairac at the scene. Somerville would never have gone to prison if he'd agreed to work for the RUC. [66] RUC officer John Weir claims that UDR corporal and alleged UVF member Robert McConnell was involved in the attack. [21][36] He suggested that had all gone according to plan, the loyalist extremists would have been able to clandestinely bomb the Republic of Ireland, yet claim that the band were republican bomb-smugglers carrying explosives on behalf of the IRA. Travers had described the English-accented man as having been of normal height and thought he had fair hair, but was not certain. [5], UK Home Secretary Roy Jenkins introduced the Prevention of Terrorism Act, which gave the government unprecedented powers against the liberty of individuals in the United Kingdom in peacetime. Three band members were shot dead by loyalist gunmen. "A hundred of your men haven't done what I've done," he told a UVF leader. [20], Bassist Stephen Travers was seriously wounded by a dum-dum bullet which had struck him when the gunmen had first begun shooting. [21][22], Their music was described as "contemporary and trans-Atlantic", with no reference to the Northern Ireland conflict. Martin Dillon suggested in The Dirty War that at least five serving UDR soldiers were present at the checkpoint. The government held the view that the British Government had not done enough to stop sectarian assassinations in Northern Ireland. . I was told by a source close to "Mr. A" and another loyalist hitman that Nairac was not present at either murder [Miami Showband and John Francis Green]. Jackson was convinced Hanna was a Special Branch informer and he feared he may spill details of the imminent Miami attack to his RUC handler. The scene of the Miami Showband Killings on the A1 road at Buskhill in County Down, Northern Ireland, 31st July 1975. At least four of the gunmen were soldiers from the British Army's Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR), and all were members of the UVF. "[54] In May 1976, Robin Jackson's fingerprints were discovered on the metal barrel of a home-made silencer constructed for a Luger. UVF killer Wesley Somerville who died in the attack. In late 1974, the Miami Showband's song "Clap Your Hands and Stomp Your Feet" (featuring O'Toole on lead vocals) reached no. Hurled in opposite directions, they were both decapitated and their bodies dismembered. Among the large crowd he spotted Billy McCaughey, a former police sergeant and convicted killer who had named his UVF accomplices to investigating detectives. And two years later when he was scooped in an RUC raid in Dungannon on September 26, 1980, he made a detailed confession outlining his involvement in numerous UVF murders. Jackson was charged with possession of the silencer but not convicted, the trial judge having reportedly said: "At the end of the day I find that the accused somehow touched the silencer, but the Crown evidence has left me completely in the dark as to whether he did that wittingly or unwittingly, willingly or unwillingly". "They also hoped he would one day take over the leadership of the organisation in mid-Ulster when Robin 'The Jackal' Jackson either stood down or was executed.". [17] Five Catholic civilians were shot; passenger Joseph Toland was killed outright and driver James Marks died of his wounds in January 1976. Ray Millar, the band's drummer, was not with them as he had chosen to go to his home town of Antrim to spend the night with his parents. Chris Hudson, a former intermediary between the government of Ireland and the UVF, whose role was crucial to the Northern Ireland peace process. They Cloned Tyrone. [93], A monument dedicated to the dead Miami Showband members was unveiled at a ceremony at Parnell Square North, Dublin, on 10 December 2007. He was then machine-gunned 22 times, mostly in the face, as he lay supine on the ground. Jackson had assumed command of the Mid-Ulster UVF just a few days before the Miami Showband attack, after allegedly shooting Hanna dead outside his home in Lurgan on 27 July 1975. The Miami Showband Massacre, the latest in Netflix's ReMastered music documentary series, may feature a band unfamiliar to Americans but the horrendous violence on display puts most American true . [69], A third person, former UDR soldier John James Somerville (aged 37, a lorry-helper and the brother of Wesley), was arrested following an RUC raid in Dungannon on 26 September 1980. The Miami Showband massacre in 1975, had a devastating effect on the showband and live music scene. The scene of the Miami Showband massacre Somerville would never. And after stopping GAA fans 22-year-old Colm McCartney and 32-year-old John Farmer, they shot them dead. Five people were killed, including three members of The Miami Showband, who were then one of Ireland's most popular cabaret bands. 10th December, 2014. [46][49] In 1993, Boyle was named by The Hidden Hand programme as one of the Dublin car bombers. The six-strong group were one of the biggest acts on the Irish music scene throughout the 1960s and 1970s. [92], Travers also visited the home of Thomas Crozier, hoping to meet with him but the latter did not come to the door. By this time the gunmen had left the scene, assuming everyone else had been killed. Everybody was respectful to Brian". The HET said the killings raised "disturbing questions about collusive and corrupt behaviour". The Story With thanks to Jimmy Harte, Anto Long and Caroline Allen Dickie's Miami (1962-1972) Few bands in Ireland have had as prolific, and tragic, a history as the Miami. The Miami Showband were an Irish showband in the 1960s and 1970s led firstly in 1962 by singer Jimmy Harte, followed by Dickie Rock and later by Fran O'Toole. [35] Regarding the soldier with the English accent, Dillon wrote:[75]. Bei kommerzieller Verwendung sowie fr verkaufsfrdernde Zwecke kontaktieren Sie bitte Ihr. UVF serial killer John Somerville shot Miami Showband singer Fran O'Toole 22 times in the face. He lay hidden in thick undergrowth, face down, undetected by the gunmen. Somerville walked over to McCaughey saying: "Get back on the bus. Despite severe burns sustained in the Miami attack, a month later Jackson was soon back on a murder mission with his trusted fellow killer John Somerville. [48] Harris Boyle and Wesley Somerville were UDR soldiers as well as holding the rank of major and lieutenant, respectively, in the UVF. Survivors Stephen Travers and Des McAlea were both present at the unveiling, as was the Taoiseach, Bertie Ahern, who made a tribute. Maguire recalled that the car first slowed down, then it accelerated, flashing its lights. [81] Martin Dillon maintained in The Dirty War that the Miami Showband attack was planned weeks before at a house in Portadown, and the person in charge of the overall operation was a former UDR man, whom Dillon referred to for legal reasons as "Mr. [59] Two days later, Portadown disc jockey Norman "Mooch" Kerr, aged 28,[60] was shot dead by the IRA as he packed up his equipment after a show at the Camrick Bar in Armagh. She furthermore opined that Jackson was the man Travers saw kicking McCoy's body to make sure he was dead. It had been travelling from Banbridge to Bleary with nine people on board; all were Catholics and most had been returning from a regular bingo session. I got them with dum-dums". He was unimpressed by the UVF men he met in the loyalist stronghold. In photographs of the Miami Showband in the 1970s he is a slim and beautiful young man in blue denim , bright-eyed and brimming with fun and music and confidence in himself and in the future.. The night after the Miami Showband massacre, gunmen shot a minibus near Gilford. Gaelic footballer brothers John Martin Reavey (24) and Brian (22) died at the scene, while 17-year-old Anthony died three weeks later. In prison John Somerville lived a reclusive life. [63] The IRA has denied responsibility. Then They Were Coldly Murdered", "An Index of Deaths from the Conflict in Ireland: 1975", "Sub-Committee on the Barron Report 26September 2006 Public Hearings on the Barron Report". [18] More uniformed men appeared from out of the darkness, their guns pointed at the minibus. [84], The families held a press conference in Dublin after the report was released. I did what I did. "After the explosion, the red mist came down and I went mad with a machine-gun," he once told a fellow loyalist prisoner. This had meant the possible withdrawal of British troops from Northern Ireland. Site of the massacre; a commemorative plaque shows where the band's minibus was parked in the lay-by. They subsequently set up a roadblock with "all the trappings of a regular military checkpoint". [34] All the gunmen were members of the UVF's Mid-Ulster Brigade and had been lying in wait to ambush the band, having set up the checkpoint just minutes before. He relayed all his instructions to the gunman in command. [40] Three of the musicians were killed: lead singer Fran O'Toole, trumpeter Brian McCoy, and guitarist Tony Geraghty. The band is remembered in the song "The Miami" by English folk singer-songwriter Jez Lowe on his album Jack Commons Anthem. [79] and that none of the perpetrators ever offered him an apology. The Glenanne gang was a loose alliance of loyalist extremists allegedly operating under the command of British Military Intelligence and/or RUC Special Branch. [30] Travers, the band's new bass player, assumed he was a British Army officer, an opinion shared by McCoy. The UVF man, who identified himself only as "the Craftsman", apologised to Travers for the attack, and explained that the UVF gunmen shot the band because they "had panicked" that night. UVF serial killer John Somerville told how detectives repeatedly tried to persuade him to become Special Branch tout and avoid jail, No remorse: Miami Showband killer John Somerville. [55] Both the silencer and pistol which was later established to have been the same one used in the Miami Showband killings were found by the security forces at the home of Edward Sinclair. Those responsible for the attack belonged to the Glenanne gang, a secret alliance of loyalist militants, Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) police officers and UDR soldiers. 2023 Getty Images. [47][71] In his first parliamentary speech on 7 July 1987, Ken Livingstone MP told the House of Commons, "it was likely" that Nairac had organised the attack. They had killed many Catholics together and they trusted each other implicitly," said our source. Geraghty was engaged to be married. They also discovered a stolen white Ford Escort registration number 4933 LZ,[43] which had been left behind by the gunmen, along with two guns, ammunition, green UDR berets and a pair of glasses later traced to James McDowell, the gunman who had allegedly ordered the shootings. [44] None of the men ever named their accomplices, and the other UVF gunmen were never caught. 3/2/2023 1:00 AM PT. It is fronted by McAlea, who returned to Northern Ireland the same year after living in South Africa since about 1982. When McCoy refused, Jackson then hatched his plan to murder McCoy and his bandmates in retaliation for what he viewed as having betrayed the loyalist cause, even macabrely choosing Buskhill as the ambush site due to its similarity to Bus-kill. They were driving home from a Gaelic football match in Dublin. "Des Lee"), 24, Catholic, from Belfast; bassist Stephen Travers, 24, Catholic, from Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary; and drummer Ray Millar, Protestant, from Antrim. [clarification needed] James McDowell lives in Lurgan, and John James Somerville became an evangelical minister in Belfast. One of these men, Lance-Corporal Thomas Raymond Crozier (aged 25, a painting contractor from Lurgan) of C Company, 11th Battalion UDR was charged with the Miami killings. His leadership was endorsed by the UVF's leader Gusty Spence. The latest from Netflix's ReMastered series focusses on the Miami Showband massacre, which took place at Banbridge, Co. Down on July 31, 1975. More than 100 killings have been attributed to him by the Pat Finucane Centre, the Derry-based civil rights group.[15][17]. There are also allegations that British military intelligence agents were involved. crime scene photos 1,913 Vintage Crime Scene Premium High Res Photos Browse 1,913 vintage crime scene stock photos and images available, or search for crime scene photos to find more great stock photos and pictures. [65] Earlier that night, three RUC officers in an unmarked car had been stopped at a checkpoint but allowed through. The incident had an adverse effect on the Irish showband scene, with many of the bands afraid to play in Northern Ireland. [79], Another persistent allegation is the direct involvement of Mid-Ulster UVF leader Robin Jackson, a native of Donaghmore, County Down, 1.5 miles (2.4km) away from Buskhill. The RUC were led to him through his glasses which had been found at the murder scene. Four Protestant civilians (two men and two women) and UVF member Hugh Harris were killed in the attack. Aaron Carter 's mother believes he was the victim of a crime, not an overdose -- so, she's made the tough decision to let the . [98] In 2011, Journalist Kevin Myers denounced the attack with the following statement: "in its diabolical inventiveness against such a group of harmless and nave young men, it is easily one of the most depraved [of the Troubles]". [43], Ballistic evidence indicates that the 10-member gang took at least six guns with them on the attack. It took place on the A1 road at Buskhill in County Down, Northern Ireland. 1.6K. It was my own personal feelings and convictions at the time these things happened. OnlyFans model Courtney Clenney, who's accused of killing her boyfriend, Obumseli, remains behind bars on second-degree murder charges. View On One Page Photo 22 of 51 ADVERTISEMENT () Start Slideshow . [4] The UVF had cut all ties with Somerville after he had opposed the 1994 ceasefire. The scene of the Miami Showband Killings on the A1 road at Buskhill in County Down, Northern Ireland, 31st July 1975. When asked to comment about the report, Des McAlea replied: "It's been a long time but we've got justice at last". He was charged with the Miami Showband murders, the attempted murder of Stephen Travers, and the murder of Patrick Falls in 1974. According to loyalists who knew him, Somerville turned down countless RUC Special Branch offers to work as a police agent. [4] He spoke with an educated English accent and immediately took charge, ordering a man who appeared to have been the leader of the patrol to tell Crozier to obtain their names and dates of birth instead of addresses. The other gunmen then started shooting the dazed band members, killing three and wounding two. [81] Neill's car was one of those allegedly used in the Buskhill attack. [4][18][28][29] As Crozier took down the information, a car pulled up and another uniformed man appeared on the scene. "Special Branch Agent colluded in Miami killings". He . [90] The encounter took place inside Hudson's church, All Souls Belfast. And nearer home, they carried out five operations in one day in the Moy and Stewartstown. Journalist Emily O'Reilly noted in the Sunday Tribune that none of the three men convicted of the massacre ever implicated Nairac in the attack or accused him of causing Boyle's death. When three young musicians lost their lives on 31 July 1975, the heart was torn out of Ireland's showband community. Date: 12th November 1941 Means: Assassinated. RM G4PYFC - Miami Showband massacre RM EC8F8C - London, UK. Free shipping for many products! [101], A Netflix documentary titled ReMastered: The Miami Showband Massacre was released 22 March 2019, highlighting the efforts of Steve Travers to track down who authorized the attack, for what purposes, and to get an admission of culpability.[102][103]. He also provides other alibis for Nairac precluding his presence at the scenes of both the John Francis Green killing and the Dublin and Monaghan bombings. [22], According to Peter Taylor, the Provisional IRA's gun and bomb attack on the loyalist Bayardo Bar in Belfast's Shankill Road on 13 August was in retaliation for the Miami Showband ambush. A report by the police's Historical Enquiries Team (HET) also suggests this. [9] According to authors Paul Larkin and Martin Dillon, Jackson was accompanied by Harris Boyle when he killed Hanna. Can you step out of the van for a few minutes and we'll just do a check". The attack was carried out by loyalist paramilitary group, the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) and took place while the group, a popular cabaret band, were travelling home to Dublin after a performance. [14], Jackson was an alleged RUC Special Branch agent who was said by Yorkshire Television's The Hidden Hand: The Forgotten Massacre programme to have had links to both the Intelligence Corps and Captain Robert Nairac. "The cops showed John a bag containing a human arm with a Mid-Ulster UVF tattoo on it. It took place on the A1 road at Buskhill in County Down, Northern Ireland. He was also one of the prime suspects in the sectarian killing of Dorothy Traynor on 1 April 1975 in Portadown. On April 17, 1975, Somerville and Jackson blew up a Catholic-owned cottage which was being renovated at Killyliss between Dungannon and Ballygawley. But he quit when the Troubles erupted on the streets of Belfast and Derry in the autumn of 1969. The plaque describes them as having been "killed in action". However, the flames from the burning hedge (which had been set on fire by the explosion) soon came dangerously close to where he lay; he was forced to leave his hiding spot. Tests done on the glasses, which were eventually traced back to McDowell, revealed that the lenses were of a prescription worn by just 1 in 500,000 of the population. [22], At least four of the gunmen were soldiers from the UDR. Concerned they might be damaged, McAlea first approached the two gunmen and asked if he could remove his saxophone. Robin Jackson died of cancer in May 1998 aged 49. The Officers and Agents of the Ulster Central Intelligence Agency commend the UVF on their actions and tender their deepest sympathy to the relatives of the two Officers who died while attempting to remove the bomb from the minibus. Touts aren't welcome here.". What little that remained intact of their bodies was burnt beyond recognition; one of the limbless torsos was completely charred.[20]. [69] Stephen Travers decried: "We believe the only conclusion possible arising from the HET report is that one of the most prolific loyalist murderers of the conflict was an RUC Special Branch agent and was involved in the Miami Showband attack". Major Boyle ordered his patrol to apprehend the occupants for questioning. On this Wikipedia the language links are at the top of the page across from the article title. December 29, 2022 by Corinne Sullivan. As Maguire continued ahead, up the by-pass toward Newry, he noticed a blue Triumph 2000 pulling-out from where it had been parked in a lay-by. [12] Journalist Joe Tiernan suggested that Hanna was shot for refusing to participate in the Miami Showband attack and that he had become an informer for the Garda in exchange for immunity from prosecution for the Dublin bombings. [2], The UVF Mid-Ulster Brigade operated mainly around the Portadown and Lurgan areas. It was released under the heading Ulster Central Intelligence Agency Miami Showband Incident Report:[20][48][42]. In his flat - which few people visited - Somerville kept a large photograph of Robin Jackson on the wall of his living room. The Miami Showband killings (also called the Miami Showband massacre)[1] was an attack on 31 July 1975 by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF), a loyalist paramilitary group. They sprung terror attacks in south Armagh, south Down, east Tyrone and even as far away as south Derry. Irish Times diarist Frank McNally summed up the massacre as "an incident that encapsulated all the madness of the time". Note: Initially it was believed that the bomb had been placed in the rear of the minibus and that the closure of the door had triggered the blast. The Miami Showband reformed in 2008, with Stephen Travers, Des McAlea, and Ray Millar, plus new members. On 15 October 1976, Crozier and McDowell both received life sentences for the Miami Showband murders. Jane Carter says late son received many threats prior to his death. As a teenager with strongly held anti-Catholic views, Somerville joined the B Specials, but he later went to sea as a member of the Merchant Navy. The meeting was arranged by Rev. Vergrern Sie die Reichweite Ihrer Marke authentisch und teilen Sie Markeninhalte mit Kreativen im Internet. [99], The findings noted in the report confirmed Mid-Ulster UVF leader Robin Jackson's involvement and identified him as an RUC Special Branch agent. The Gruesome Death Scene Launch Gallery. At no time did this new soldier speak to any of the band members nor did he directly address Crozier. The attack was carried out by. Despite his conversion to Christianity, Somerville remained virulently anti-Catholic and he strongly opposed the Good Friday Agreement. [44] The independent panel of inquiry commissioned by the Pat Finucane Centre concluded that there was "credible evidence that the principal perpetrator [of the Miami Showband attack] was a man who was not prosecuted alleged RUC Special Branch agent Robin Jackson". The ruthless UVF killer fell into a deep depression fuelled by alcohol. About 10 gunmen were at the checkpoint, according to author and journalist Martin Dillon. [80] The same panel revealed that about six weeks before the attack, Thomas Crozier, Jackson and the latter's brother-in-law Samuel Fulton Neill, were arrested for the possession of four shotguns. [22][44], One of the first RUC men who arrived at Buskhill in the wake of the killings was scenes of crime officer James O'Neill. Browse 25,406 crime scene photos stock photos and images available or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Jackson informed Frazer that John Somerville was due for release. A long battle for justice for three members of a popular Irish music group, Miami Showband, who were murdered during The Troubles in Northern Ireland received a huge boost this week with. [8] The brigade was described by author Don Mullan as one of the most ruthless units operating in the 1970s. The patrol sergeant immediately ordered the patrol to shoot back. Notorious loyalist serial killer Robin Jackson. It is obvious, therefore, that the UVF patrol was justified in taking the action it did and that the killing of the three Showband members should be regarded as justifiable homicide. The scene of The Miami Showband Massacre Hier knnen Sie Inhalte sammeln, auswhlen und Anmerkungen zu Ihren Dateien hinterlegen. She also thinks that had everything gone to plan once the bomb was planted in the van McCoy would have been instructed to drive through Newry where the bomb would have gone off and the UVF could then afterwards portray the Miami Showband as IRA members on a mission to blow up the local RUC barracks.

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