Miami Showband survivor has no problem with controversial parade

A musician who survived the Miami Showband killings has said he has “no problem” with a controversial loyalist band parade that will commemorate one of the attackers, although he wishes people would “move on”.

Three band members were killed when their tour bus was ambushed by loyalist paramilitaries in a bomb and gun attack near Newry in July 1975.

Des Lee said those participating in the parade are “entitled to commemorate their dead as much as we entitled to commemorate ours”.

However, some politicians have said the parade “risks stepping over the line into the glorification of terrorism”.

Mr Lee told BBC Radio Ulster’s Good Morning Ulster programme people in Northern Ireland should prioritise “giving our grandkids and their kids of the future a better Northern Ireland for everybody”.

“It’s fifty years, must we continue with the childish things that are occurring all around us on all sides?”

Mr Lee said his philosophy in life is to “forgive, forget and move on”.

“I don’t hold any grudge. What happened to my friends was appalling, but I don’t want to live for the rest of my life living in the past,” he said.

“I have got to look forward to the future.”

Harris Boyle was known as one of the attackers of the Miami Showband murders in July 1975.

The parade route is listed on the Parades Commissions website as starting at Levaghery Orange Hall, however, the Orange Order has said it’s not a parade it has sanctioned.

“I look back and reflect on it now, I cannot believe how lucky I was”, Mr Lee said.

“Because when we were asked to get out of the van, I was on the far left of the line.

“I asked the guys if I could take my saxophone out of the van and put it on the road.

“I ended up on the far right of the line.”

This new position meant that, when the bomb prematurely exploded, Mr Lee survived.

Mr Lee pretended he was dead following the explosion, holding his breath and staying prone on the ground.

When he stood up, he said the sight in front of him was “the most horrendous scene” he had ever witnessed.

“There were bits of bodies all over the place. I would never wish anybody to see that in their lives. It was absolutely horrendous.

“I remember every single thing in the finest detail, and I never want to forget it.”

Mr Lee said that despite the tensions of the time, the band never had any problems when it came to religion.

“There were two protestants in our band. Our job was to entertain people, and that’s what we did.”

Mr Lee is critical of the controversial Legacy Act, which ended 38 inquests which had not reached their final stages by 1 May 2024.

He said the British government is doing a “dreadful job”.

“They’re trying to push all the families under the carpet and hope that it all goes away.

“I pity these poor families because it’s not going to be an easy road for them.”

Mr Lee said he would “beg” Mr Benn to “do the right thing” and tell the families of victims “the absolute truth”.

Survivors and relatives of those killed in the Miami Showband attack received close to £1.5m in damages after they sued the Ministry of Defence (MOD) and Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI).

A concert is being held in Dublin later this year to mark 50 years since the attack.

The bomb and gun attack happened as the band, which toured across Ireland, travelled home to Dublin after a gig in Banbridge.

Their minibus was stopped by a fake army checkpoint which had been mounted by a group of men from the Ulster Volunteer Force, including two soldiers from the Ulster Defence Regiment.

Harris Boyle was killed when the bomb which was placed on the Miami Showband bus exploded prematurely.

The gang then opened fire, murdering singer Fran O’Toole, guitarist Tony Geraghty and trumpeter Brian McCoy.

Des Lee and another band member, Stephen Travers, were injured but survived.

The bomb also killed Wesley Somerville who was commemorated in April at a memorial parade in Moygashel in County Tyrone.