Parents of loyalist murder victim Gary Moore apply for fresh inquest as 20th anniversary approaches

Marie Moore, the mother of Gary Moore, who was aged 30 when he was shot dead on a building site nearly twenty years ago, issued the appeal after she and her husband lodged an application for a fresh inquest into the killing.

As the 20th anniversary of Mr. Moore’s murder approaches, his parents have appeal 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.

Mrs. Moore said: “We are asking the new Attorney General to again consider our request for a fresh inquest into Gary’s murder. We were not represented at the first inquest.

“We would like to be in a position to examine and investigate the police investigation into Gary’s murder and to consider all the available, and any new, evidence.

“We therefore appeal to the public with all our hearts to come forward if they have any information which would be of assistance to us. Even 20 years later we cannot leave Gary to rest while his killer remains free.”

Solicitors for Mr. and Mrs. Moore, Harte Coyle Collins, Solicitors and Advocates, Belfast, said: “We are strenuously pursuing a fresh inquest application for our clients.

“They were neither represented at the original inquest nor able to examine and probe whatever evidence was available then.

“Gary Moore’s murder took place after the Good Friday Agreement. It was completely sectarian. We have concerns regarding the rigour of the original police investigation. My clients believe that there are members of the public who have information which may 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 December 6, 2000 in Newtownabbey to come forward as soon as possible.”

This week the family lodged an application for a fresh inquest under s.14 the Coroners Act 1959 to the new Attorney General for Northern Ireland, Brenda King.

It’s believed their son was targeted by loyalist paramilitaries almost three years after the Good Friday Agreement.

Mr. Moore who had travelled from his hometown in Dungiven to work on the building site in Newtownabbey was in a relationship with two children at the time of his death. No one has ever been prosecuted for his murder.

This is the second application by Mr. Moore’s parents to the Attorney General for a fresh inquest into his murder. The first application was made in 2013.

This was refused by the outgoing Attorney General Mr. John Larkin QC in 2017.

According to the family’s lawyers the renewed application which was lodged on Monday relies upon ‘contradictory information provided by state agencies in relation to the DNA evidence which was found on the gun used in the shooting.’