Large turn out to remember the New Lodge Six

There was a large turnout at the New Lodge Garden of Remembrance to mark the 36th anniversary of the murders of the New Lodge Six.
John Loughran, whose uncle John Loughran was on of the six men murdered, chaired the proceedings in which Sinn Féin MLA Gerry Kelly gave a small oration.
The six men who were gunned down by the British Army in 1973, Jim Sloan, Jim McCann, Tony Campbell, Brendan Maguire, John Loughran and Ambrose Hardy were shot dead in a 90-minute period in the New Lodge on the night of February 3 and into the early hours of February 4 1973.
The New lodge garden is just yards away from a mural dedicated to the campaign to have the British Government admit its role behind the gun attacks that night.
John Loughran said the event allowed not only the families of the New Lodge Six but also other families in the area with relatives killed in the Troubles to commemorate their dead.
"It was a very good turnout for it being a cold and wintry night," he said.
"People in this area have gathered here every year not only to remember the New Lodge Six but also to remember their own loved ones. It gives everyone a chance to reflect."
The events surrounding their deaths have never been properly investigated and the families of the six men have been involved in a long running campaign for justice.
John Loughran said the families would not give up their fight to have the British government break its silence and order a fresh investigation.
"The truth costs nothing. Our memories live on 36 years later and we will get to the truth of what happened that day,” said Loughran.