Council Support for the Family of Michael Leonard

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council has offered great support to the family of Michael Leonard.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council (FODC) voted late on Monday night (18th October 2021) to support the family of Michael Leonard who was killed by the Royal Ulster Constabulary on 17th May 1973 just before he crossed the border to his home in Pettigo, County Donegal. Michael was an unarmed civilian who posed no threat to the RUC officers.

In the aftermath of the killing, the RUC lied to Michael's family, the media, and the Coroner at the original inquest. The RUC story changed from the victim breaking through a vehicle checkpoint, to a single accidental "million to one" shot that killed Michael.

All of the police stories were lies and this was proven by secret British military archives discovered by Paper Trail and published in a report by Michael's cousin, Father Joseph McVeigh: The Murder of Michael Leonard [download FREE].

Over the last two and a half years since the publication of the secret files, the British state - including the Police Service Northern Ireland, Office of the Police Ombudsman, and Public Prosecution Service - appear to have done absolutely nothing to bring the police killers to justice.

Fermanagh and Omagh District Council Support

FODC voted in support of an important motion raised by Sinn Féin's Councillor and seconded by Councillor Anthony Feely.

The motion at the Special Committee Meeting read as follows:

"Fermanagh and Omagh District Council supports the family of Michael Leonard in their ongoing fight for a new inquest into his killing on the 17th May 1973 at Letter, County Fermanagh.

As such, this Council calls on:

- The Attorney General to grant a fresh and transparent inquest into the killing of Michael Leonard;

- the Police Ombudsman to undertake an immediate criminal investigation into the actions of the personnel traveling in the Police Land Rover from which the shots directed at Michael Leonard’s car were fired; and,

- the British Government, the British MOD and the PSNI to fully co-operate with any fresh investigation into the killing of Mr. Leonard, including making available all relevant Police and Military records and with the location of potential witnesses."

Michael's cousin, Father Joe McVeigh said:

“Our family is very happy for the support of Fermanagh and Omagh District Council and we commend the work of those who spoke and voted in support of Councillor Currie’s motion."

"We have also petitioned the Irish government for support as Michael was an Irish citizen murdered by armed officers of the Royal Ulster Constabulary. The RUC then covered up the true circumstances of their murder of Michael, lying to our family, the public, the Irish government, and the Coroner at the original inquest.”

“The British state’s amnesty proposals prove that it may wish to bury its war crimes and protect its killers, but all families have a right to truth and justice.”

WATCH

Councillor Currie speaking at the Special Council Meeting: