Parents of Dungiven man shot dead by loyalist paramilitaries issue fresh appeal for information

The parents of a Dungiven man, who was shot dead by loyalist paramilitaries, have issued a fresh appeal for information on the killing of their son, 23 years after the murder.

Gary Moore was shot dead on December 6, 2000 in Monkstown, Newtownabbey.

Today, his parents, Marie and Nevin Moore, have appealed to the public to provide any information whatsoever to assist in a fresh police investigation and a further application to the Attorney General for a fresh inquest.

Mr Moore, 30, was shot dead while working on a building site in Monkstown.

The father-of-two was targeted by loyalist paramilitaries over two years after the Good Friday Agreement was passed in 1998. He had travelled from his hometown in Dungiven on the morning of December 6 to work on the building site in Newtownabbey. He was in a relationship and had two children at the time of the murder.

No one has ever been prosecuted or convicted for his murder.

Marie and Nevin Moore continue to seek justice and accountability for their son’s death. They previously lodged two applications to two consecutive Attorney Generals for Northern Ireland, John Larkin in 2013 and Brenda King in 2020, for a fresh inquest into his death.

In the second 2020 application the couple confirmed that they were present during the first inquest despite being advised by their lawyer that they did not need to attend. They did attend but they were not represented by a lawyer and were unable to cross examine witnesses or make submissions. Their lawyer was Mr Johnny Sandhu who subsequently pleaded guilty and was sentenced for inciting loyalist paramilitaries to commit murder and attempting to pervert the course of justice. The 2020 application to the new Attorney General dealt with this undeclared conflict of interest by the then lawyer and the absence of next of kin legal representation before the original inquest.

The most recent application to the Attorney General also relied upon contradictory information provided by state agencies regarding the DNA evidence which was found on the gun used in the shooting. The weapon used to murder Gary Moore is believed to have also been used in the murder of Gavin Brett and the attempted murder of Paul Farrell.

In the month of the 23rd anniversary of Gary’s killing his parents now appeal again to the public to provide any information they can to either police or to their solicitor in order to open up new lines of enquiry.

“We appeal to the public with all our hearts to come forward if they have any information which would be of assistance to us. Even 23 years later we cannot leave Gary to rest while his killer or killers remain free,” said heartbroken Marie.

Solicitor for Mr and Mrs Moore, Patricia Coyle of Harte Coyle Collins, Solicitors and Advocates, Belfast, added: “Gary Moore’s murder took place after the Good Friday Agreement. There is no legal bar regarding a potential prosecution of those responsible. His murder was sectarian. Our clients have serious concerns regarding the rigour of the original police investigation. They have been badly served by the entire criminal justice system to date.

“My clients believe that members of the public may have information which would assist them and the police in their search for the truth. We ask that anyone with information in relation to the murder of Gary Moore on the 6th of December 2000 in Monkstown, Newtownabbey come forward and provide that information as soon as possible.”