Family of docker killed in attack seek ‘closure’
THE family of a Belfast docker who died (was murdered) following a bar bombing during the Troubles have made a ffresh appeal for witnesses to come forward almost 40 years after his death (murder).
John Doherty, who was known as Sean, was one of two men killed as a result of a bomb attack on the Harp Bar in Hill Street in Belfast city centre on August 30, 1975. The 29-year-old, who lived on the New Lodge Road and was a footballer for Crusaders, suffered severe head injuries and died 11 days after the bombing. He had gone to the Harp Bar following his brother Martin’s wedding and was drinking with friends – including Denis McAuley who was also killed – when the bar was attacked. At around 8pm, a man entered the premises and threw a bomb, killing Mr McAuley, fatally injuring Sean Doherty and injuring a number of others.
Following the publication of a report by the PSNIs Historical Enquires Team (HET) into the case, the Doherty family have issued a new appeal for witnesses. The report, which found that Mr Doherty had “no political interest and had no connection to any paramilitary group”, said the original RUC investigation had “correctly focussed on members of the UVF from East Belfast“. Some witnesses had told the origional investigation how one man had entered the bar with a brown parcel while another man armed with a handgun waited outside near a Ford Cortina car. One witness told how the armed man opened fire toward him at one point. He was later picked out at an identification parade and charged with the murders.
However they were later withdrawn when the witness said he would not give evidence in court. The HET report found there had been a previous attack at the Harp Bar 10 days before the bombing in which one man was injured in a shooting. It further found that the weapon uased on the night of the bombing had been stolen from the Forensic Science Laboratory in March 1973. Recovered in 1976 it was found to be used in six incidents including the attack on the Harp Bar. The Doherty family revealed yesterday that it had enlisted a solicitor to deal with a number of issues in relation to the report, including concerns about the origional police investigations into the previous attack on the bar and the circumstances of the stolen gun. Martin Doherty yesterday appealed for information about the attack which killed his brother Sean. The Andersontown man said the family had been left devastated by his death and were hopeful of any new leads which would “bring them closure more than anything”. Shauna Carberry, from Relatives for Justice, also appealed for witnesses.
With many thanks to : Marie Louise McCory, Irish News.
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