Families of two IRA men shot dead in 1983 settle Belfast High Court claims

The families of two IRA men shot dead by British soldiers in 1983 have reached confidential settlements in damages claims heard at the High Court in Belfast.

The court was told the actions brought over the deaths of Brian Campbell and Colm McGirr had been resolved.

Mr Campbell, 19, and Mr McGirr, 23, died after the SAS mounted an operation at an arms dump near Coalisland, County Tyrone, in December 1983.

The families had sued the Ministry of Defence and the Police Service of Northern Ireland, alleging a shoot-to-kill policy and a lack of effective investigation.

The families' barrister told the court that undisclosed settlements had been reached in both cases.

Mr Justice Rooney said it was good news to hear the two actions had been resolved after such a long time.

The families are to make a donation to charity following the outcome.

Their solicitor said the confidential terms were agreed after weeks of negotiations and that his clients were satisfied with the result.

The case matters because it closes, at least legally, a long-running dispute over the circumstances of the 1983 shootings and the handling of the investigation that followed.

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