Case over alleged security force involvement in killing is adjourned

A civil action over the alleged involvement of serving British soldiers in the murder of a Gaelic football fan has been adjourned until next year.

Sean Farmer, 32, was on his way home from a GAA match when he was shot dead along with his friend Colm McCartney, 22, at a dummy roadblock in Altnamackin, County Armagh, in 1975.

Farmer’s family has taken a case against the Ministry of Defence (MoD) alleging misfeasance in public office, negligence and trespass to the person. The MoD denies liability.

Proceedings at the High Court in Belfast were adjourned after new material emerged on the second day of the case, with lawyers on both sides needing more time to examine them.

A civil case taken by the Farmer family against the Police Service of Northern Ireland was settled last week. The family was informed it was to receive undisclosed damages and an apology.

Farmer and McCartney were travelling home from an All-Ireland semi-final between Derry and Dublin at Croke Park when they were killed.

During his opening statement at the High Court on Monday, a barrister for Farmer’s family said they had been murdered by members of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) known as the Glenanne Gang.

The barrister, Des Fahy KC, described the gang as a group of loyalist paramilitaries which he said included “serving members” of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR) and the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC).

The UDR was a British Army unit that operated in Northern Ireland for 22 years from 1970.

Counsel for the MoD said it denied there was any involvement of the UDR or any serving member in the killings.

Mark Robinson KC told the court the plaintiff’s case was “based on hearsay and intelligence, and intelligence is not evidence”.

The case is expected to resume in January.