South and East Belfast Sinn Féin -- Building an Ireland of Equals

Milltown Martyr - John Murray

Published: 10 March, 2008

Jude White, Alex Maskey, MLA, Mrs and Mr Murray, Niall and Mairead Farrell

Jude White, Alex Maskey, MLA, Mrs and Mr Murray, Niall and Mairead Farrell

Milltown Martyr, John Murray, from the lower ormeau road, was honoured, as part of the Gibraltar/Milltown anniversary this week.

A candlelit vigil was held for John Murray on Friday 7th March, who was murdered by Michael Stone, and assisted by British Intelligence, in Milltown cemetery, 20 years ago, this week. The Vigil was held at the bottom of Shaftsbury Avenue, where a mural, for St Malachy's GAA, includes a portrait of John Murray, who was an active GAA member. The Murray family were joined by Niall Farrell, brother of Mairead, and his daughter, also, Mairead. The vigil was also supported by Jude White, brother in law of Sean Savage, and both families offered their support to John Murray's Family.

Alex Maskey, MLA, for South Belfast, attended the vigil and said;

"John Murray died to save others, and if it had not been for his brave actions that day, many more mourners would have been killed and injured. We owe John Murray, Thomas McErlean and Caoimhin MacBradaigh, our sincere gratitude. They were heroes that day."

John Murray was killed at the funeral of Mairead Farrell, Dan McCann, Sean Savage, who were murdered by the SAS in Gibraltar, on 6th March 1988. He was killed along with Thomas McErlean and Caoimhin MacBradaigh, while they bravely chased after Michael Stone."

Mr Maskey continued;

"I call upon the authorities, to help the Murray family, find the truth regarding their son's death. Michael Stone was assisted by British Intelligence on the day and in the lead up to the killings in Milltown. The Murray family have never had a post-mortem or inquest into their son's death. At this stage, 20 years later, they do not even know how their son, John, was killed.

I call on the Government to order a full public inquiry into the collusion surrounding Michael Stone and the killings in Milltown. The Murray family deserve an inquest into their son's death." "John has been and will continue to be, sorely missed by his family, and by his community, and we commit to finding the truth about John's death." "John Murray was a hero and died unselfishly, to save others"ENDS

PHOTO FROM LEFT TO RIGHT Jude White, Alex Maskey, MLA, Mrs and Mr Murray, Niall and Mairead Farrell, at the candlelit vigil on Friday 7th March in front of the GAA Mural, which includes John Murray.