Millions in Compensation paid in Belfast Legacy Case.

Eight survivors of a loyalist gun attack on the Thierafurth Inn in Kilcoo, Co Down, have secured millions in damages in a civil case brought against the PSNI and the Ministry of Defence, in what is believed to be one of the largest group settlements of its kind. The settlement, approved at Belfast High Court, brings a measure of acknowledgement to victims who have carried the trauma of that night for over three decades and highlights the vital role experienced compensation solicitors Belfast clients trust can play in securing justice for victims of the Troubles.

The Attack

On 19 November 1992, two UVF gunmen walked into the Thierafurth Inn while customers gathered for a charity darts match, opening fire indiscriminately. Peter McCormack, a former schoolteacher, was shot in the back and later died from his injuries. A plaque on the wall of the pub today commemorates him. His family were not party to this group settlement.

The UVF later claimed the attack had been an attempt to kill a named republican who frequented the bar, using intelligence montages taken from a UDR barracks in the area. He was not present that night.

What the Ombudsman Found

The case followed a critical 2016 report by the Police Ombudsman for Northern Ireland (PONI) into the activities of a loyalist gang operating in south Down. The report found that military intelligence material had been accessed by the gang responsible for the attack, and that there had been no sustained police response to disrupt the gang’s activities despite its members already being linked to several previous murders and attempted murders.

The Ombudsman also found that intelligence about the killers’ activities was not shared appropriately, and that security forces in the region, both police and military, had been compromised through associations or sympathies with the gang. A separate report established that the then RUC was aware of a plan to remove military intelligence documents from a UDR base, but chose not to intervene. Members of the same UVF unit were later implicated in the 1994 Heights Bar massacre in Loughinisland, in which six men were murdered.

Compensation and Acknowledgement

While the exact settlement figure remains confidential under its terms, it is understood to run to several million pounds. The PSNI and Ministry of Defence have also agreed to pay costs.

Speaking outside Belfast High Court, solicitor Gavin Booth of Phoenix Law said none of those in the bar that night had recovered from the experience. “It’s taken 11 years since the civil proceedings started for us to bring this to court, but today is finally an acknowledgement of the hurt, the pain, and the trauma caused to these families,” he said.

Survivor Patrick Gribben, who was shot several times, said people rarely see the lasting impact his injuries have had on those around him. John McEvoy, who was working behind the bar and escaped physical injury, said the events of that night have never left him. “It never goes out of your mind, it’s with you all the time, but I suppose as the years go on, you get by it,” he said.

Why Legal Representation Matters

Cases of this scale and complexity spanning historical policing failures, military intelligence, and multiple plaintiffs demand specialist legal expertise. This settlement demonstrates why survivors and families continue to turn to Belfast expert solicitors at Phoenix Law for  pursuing legal accountability for Troubles-related incidents.

Phoenix Law has represented survivors of the Thierafurth Inn attack throughout this eleven-year legal process. For individuals or families seeking advice on legacy inquests, civil actions arising from the Troubles, or general personal injury and compensation claims, our team of experienced solicitors is available to discuss your case in confidence.