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Journalist's murder: Brother demands justice after 25 years
4 Oct
Summary
- Martin O'Hagan was shot dead walking home from a pub.
- No one has ever been convicted for the 2001 investigative reporter's murder.
- His brother vows to continue seeking answers to prevent guilt.
Twenty-five years ago, investigative journalist Martin O'Hagan was murdered as he walked home with his wife. The 51-year-old was shot in Lurgan, County Armagh, on a night he was returning from a pub. His killing was claimed by the Red Hand Defenders, a pseudonym for Loyalist paramilitary groups.
Despite initial condemnation and charges, the case remains unsolved, with no convictions to date. Those close to O'Hagan express frustration that promises from officials to bring those responsible to justice have gone unfulfilled. His brother, Fintan, is determined to continue seeking answers, stating that not pursuing the truth would be unbearable.
O'Hagan, a reporter for the Sunday World, had a reputation for exposing paramilitary figures and drug operations. His work, which included labeling LVF leader Billy Wright as 'King Rat', had angered powerful individuals. While there were suggestions he was investigating collusion and LVF finances, concrete proof was never established.
Fintan O'Hagan reflects that his brother might have made a fatal error by not taking sufficient security precautions. He recalls his brother believing 'the war is over,' a sentiment that proved tragically mistaken on that fateful night in 2001. The family's initial belief in police assurances of swift justice has since turned to deep disappointment.
