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Families of IRA men shot dead reach settlements for damages
Relatives of Brian Campbell and Colm McGirr, whose deaths in December 1983 were linked to a SAS operation, have reached confidential settlements in their damages claims against the MoD and PSNI. The settlements were announced in the High Court on May 8, 2026, with the families set to donate to charity. The case has roots in a 2013 HET finding and a 1985 inquest that yielded limited conclusions.
Why It Matters
The settlements close a long-running legal dispute over alleged shoot-to-kill policies and investigations into Troubles-era deaths, highlighting ongoing accountability questions for state actions decades ago.
Timeline
5 Events
Settlements announced in High Court
May 8, 2026
In the High Court, it was announced that the two actions have been settled on confidential terms. The families will donate to charity. The judge, Mr Justice Rooney, described it as good news after the long proceedings; the families’ solicitor said settlements were reached after weeks of negotiations.
Legal action started following HET findings
2016
Based on the HET findings, relatives issued legal proceedings for damages against the Ministry of Defence and the Police Service of Northern Ireland in 2016.
HET findings published
2013
A Historical Enquiries Team (HET) investigation concluded in 2013 that Colm McGirr’s body position was consistent with kneeling when shot, and that no shots had struck Brian Campbell from the front.
1985 inquest yields no significant findings
1985
An inquest in 1985 produced no significant findings about the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
1983 SAS operation and deaths of Campbell and McGirr
December 1983
Two IRA men, Brian Campbell (19) and Colm McGirr (23), were shot dead after an SAS operation at a weapons cache site on Cloghog Road near Coalisland, County Tyrone. Troops had been surveilling the site for three days and opened fire; up to 79 cartridge cases were traced to soldiers’ weapons. An unidentified third person was present at the cache site.