The Police Service of Northern Ireland has paid undisclosed damages to the families of Charles and Teresa Fox and Kevin McKearney, who were murdered by the Ulster Volunteer Force in 1992. The High Court in Belfast heard the settlement was reached after negotiations and that the families were relieved the civil case is over.
The BBC reports the damages, which solicitor Gavin Booth described as "significant", follow a lawsuit alleging state agents were involved in the loyalist shootings in County Tyrone. The PSNI will also pay all legal costs.
Kevin McKearney, a father of four, was shot dead at the family butcher shop in Moy on 3 January 1992. His 68-year-old uncle John McKearney, known as Jack, was seriously wounded in the attack and died from his injuries three months later. On 6 September 1992, Charles and Teresa Fox, aged 63 and 54, were shot dead in their home, their bodies discovered by two of their children the following morning.
Kevin McKearney's widow, Bernie, said the settlement is “nice” but added: “Nobody is ever going to be held accountable. I feel we are never going to get justice.”
Addressing the court, Mr Justice Rooney said he hoped the settlement would provide "some closure". Stating that four innocent victims had been brutally murdered, he said: "I can't imagine the pain and suffering you have gone through." He described the cases as "close to my heart".
The families also sued the Ministry of Defence, but the court was told that action has now been discontinued.
Their inquests were halted two years ago after sensitive intelligence information was not disclosed. The government has previously rejected calls for a public inquiry, despite a coroner suggesting that course. Solicitor Booth said: “To date we have had no inquest or no gist (of the intelligence) which stopped the inquest. While today is a step forward, we call on the Secretary of State to give them their inquest, or give them a public inquiry.”
Relatives said the settlement is not the end of the matter. Patricia Kearney, one of the Fox children, said: "There is a lot of information we will probably never get in our lifetime. If it was released it would be damaging and that's the way it has always been."
Analysis
Why This Matters
- The settlement addresses a long-running civil case but leaves unresolved allegations of state collusion during the Troubles.
- The families receive financial compensation without the full account of intelligence involvement they have sought for decades.
- The case puts renewed pressure on the government to hold a public inquiry or resume inquests into the murders.
Background
The four victims were killed by the Ulster Volunteer Force in two separate attacks in Moy, County Tyrone, in 1992. Kevin McKearney was shot at the family butchery; his uncle John died from wounds months later. Charles and Teresa Fox, the parents-in-law of Kevin, were killed at home in September that year. The families have long alleged state agents were connected to the UVF unit responsible. Their inquests were stopped in 2024 after intelligence material was not disclosed. The government has so far resisted calls for a public inquiry.
Key Perspectives
Bernie McKearney: widow of Kevin McKearney, said the settlement is "nice" but added "nobody is ever going to be held accountable" and "we are never going to get justice."
Gavin Booth: solicitor for the families, called the damages "significant" and urged the Secretary of State to grant an inquest or public inquiry.
Patricia Kearney: daughter of Charles and Teresa Fox, said there is information they will likely never receive, adding "if it was released it would be damaging."
Mr Justice Rooney: said he hoped the settlement would bring "some closure", describing the victims as "four innocent victims" who were "brutally murdered."
What to Watch
- The government's response to renewed calls for a public inquiry or inquest into the murders.
- Any further disclosure of intelligence material that could shed light on state involvement.
- The impact of this settlement on other legacy cases in Northern Ireland where collusion is alleged.
Checked
12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 11 supported.
Show each claim
- SupportedThe PSNI has paid undisclosed damages to relatives of victims of UVF murders.BBC News: “The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has paid undisclosed damages in connection with loyalist shootings in County Tyrone which left four Catholics dead.”
- SupportedA civil settlement followed loyalist shootings in County Tyrone that left four Catholics dead in 1992.BBC News: “The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has paid undisclosed damages in connection with loyalist shootings in County Tyrone which left four Catholics dead. ... they were murdered by the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) in two separate attacks carried out in Moy in 1992.”
- Partly supportedFamilies of Kevin, John, Charles and Teresa McKearney sued the PSNI over alleged state-agent involvement.BBC News: “Relatives of Charles and Teresa Fox and Kevin McKearney sued the police over the alleged involvement of state agents.”
- SupportedThe Foxes were shot dead at home on 6 September 1992, and their bodies were found the next morning.BBC News: “On 6 September 1992, Charles and Teresa Fox, aged 63 and 54 respectively, who had a family of six children, were shot dead in their home. Their bodies were discovered by two of their children the morning after the attack.”
- SupportedKevin McKearney was shot dead on 3 January 1992, and John McKearney died from injuries sustained in the same attack three months later.BBC News: “Kevin McKearney, a father of four, was working behind the counter of the butcher shop on 3 January 1992 when a gunman walked in and shot him several times. He died at the scene. His 68-year-old uncle John - known as Jack - was shot and seriously wounded in the attack. He died from his injuries three months later on 4 April 1992.”
- SupportedBernie McKearney called the settlement “nice” and said nobody would ever be held accountable and she felt they would never get justice.BBC News: “Kevin McKearney's widow, Bernie, said the settlement is "nice", but added: "Nobody is ever going to be held accountable. "I feel we are never going to get justice."”
- SupportedGavin Booth described the damages as “significant”.BBC News: “Their solicitor, Gavin Booth, said the damages are "significant".”
- SupportedMr Justice Rooney said he hoped the settlement would provide “some closure”.BBC News: “Addressing the court, Mr Justice Rooney said he hoped the settlement would provide "some closure".”
- SupportedMr Justice Rooney said, “I can't imagine the pain and suffering you have gone through.”BBC News: “Stating that four innocent victims had been brutally murdered, he added: "I can't imagine the pain and suffering you have gone through."”
- SupportedMr Justice Rooney said the cases had been “close to my heart”.BBC News: “He said the cases had been "close to my heart".”
- SupportedPatricia Kearney said there was information the family might never get, and that releasing it would be damaging.BBC News: “Patricia Kearney, one of the Fox children, said: "There is a lot of information we will probably never get in our lifetime. "If it was released it would be damaging and that's the way it has always been."”
- SupportedGavin Booth said the families had had no inquest or gist of the intelligence and called on the Secretary of State to provide an inquest or public inquiry.BBC News: “Booth added: "To date we have had no inquest or no gist (of the intelligence) which stopped the inquest. "While today is a step forward, we call on the Secretary of State to give them their inquest, or give them a public inquiry."”