A vigil marked the 25th anniversary of the Greysteel murders last night (Tuesday). Hundreds of family members and friends gathered to remember their loved ones.
Gunmen entered the Rising Sun bar in the small County Londonderry village and shot dead seven people on October 30, 1993. Another man died from his injuries. One of the gunmen shouted ‘trick or treat’ before opening fire. Loyalists claimed responsibility for the attack. Four men were jailed for the murders – Jeffrey Deeney, Stephen Irwin, Torrens Knight and Brian McNeill.
Among those attending last night’s service was Alan McBride, whose wife Sharon was murdered in the Shankill bombing.
This was a horrific act , carried out at a very dark time in Northern Irelands history. Thoughts are with the families today #Greysteel https://t.co/odMHgCdsfc
— Ann Travers (@AnnTravers6) October 30, 2018
I can’t begin to imagine the grief & pain of the families of those brutally murdered at Greysteel 25 years ago.A horrific time in our past with 23 people killed in one week. There is a responsibility on all of us to never go back, to keep moving forward & bring each other with us
— Nichola Mallon (@NicholaMallon) October 30, 2018
John Hume described the Greysteel massacre as "a terrible crystallisation of the senselessness of violence.” The gentle words of a relative saw him break down but she urged him to continue to push for lasting peace so no other family would suffer in the way hers had. @SDLPlive pic.twitter.com/NUFvBxR7XV
— Tim Attwood (@cllrtimattwood) October 30, 2018
Today, my thoughts and prayers are with the victims and families of The Greysteel Massacre which took place on October 30th 25 years ago. The savagery and callousness of the killers is beyond description and should be a warning to everyone to reject all warmongering opportunists. pic.twitter.com/4ieBgsF2MZ
— Stephen Travers (@MiamiShowband) October 30, 2018
Twenty-five years since Evil visited Greysteel. Never again.https://t.co/JQnQDjgGeQ
— LAD (@LADFLEG) October 30, 2018