The Five Demands

Golf course tribute to IRA victim (News Letter)

TWENTY-FIVE years after the IRA murdered a young UDR private in Lisburn, the family of Joseph McIlwaine have attended a memorial service at the scene of his brutal killing.

The greenkeeper at the Aberdelghy municipal golf course was also a part-time member of the regiment and the council arranged last weekend’s tribute in memory of their slain colleague.

Mr McIlwaine was shot several times by three IRA gunmen as he shared a tea break with other workers at the golf course on June 12, 1987. He was the youngest child and the only son in a large family.

His sister, Janet Hunter, said her mother Annie and father Joe have never got over the hurt and will probably go to their graves knowing no-one was ever brought to justice for their son’s murder.

“Mummy carried Joseph for nine months and that wee son was the light of her life. She thought that in her old age she would have a wee son to look after her but he was ripped from her. That woman has suffered and she will never get over it,” she said.

Although welcoming the subsequent peace process, Janet experienced mixed emotions that it came too late for her brother.

“I was really grateful that it had come along because it meant that, God willing, no-one else was going to die, but to allow the terrorists on all sides to actually get away with murder was a very hard pill to swallow and I have not come to terms with that.

“I still think they should pay the price. Even serving a reduced sentence would have been better than nothing. I don’t feel anger – it’s disappointment in the justice system.”

Despite the McIlwaine family’s continuing hurt, Janet says the support of her brother’s former UDR comrades has been “absolutely fabulous”.

“Every year, some of the UDR lads and the family go to Broomhedge church where Joseph was buried from. Every June and November (Remembrance Sunday) they go with us and have done for 25 years. Without that support I don’t know what my mummy and daddy would have done.”

Married with three children of her own, Janet ran the cross-community victims’ group Families Achieving Change Together (FACT) for eight years, which she says helped her cope with her own grief.

“Because I was supporting other people, it helped me come to terms with the pain I was going through.”

The McIlwaine family attended the unveiling of the 19ft UDR sculpture in Lisburn city centre last year and drew great comfort from the gesture.

Janet described the bronze tribute – commissioned by the UDR Memorial Trust and created by sculptor John Sherlock – as “a real highlight” which warmed her parents’ hearts.

Lisburn City Council chief executive Norman Davidson spoke at the ceremony on Sunday and said: “We are proud to remember Joseph as one of our employees, and who was so tragically murdered.

“The significance of what happened to Joseph has not been forgotten and we were proud to host this memorial service with his family.”