36 years ago this evening – on 7 March 1990 – Sam Marshall was murdered by a UVF murder gang in the centre of Lurgan: a UVF gang heavily armed by agents of the British Army's Force Research Unit and directed by their handlers in RUC Special Branch.
On the night of Sam's murder, approximately 11 armed and plain clothed undercover British soldiers were briefed by the RUC and directed to patrol the very small area between Lurgan RUC station and the nearby Kilwilkie estate. They were operating in a tight urban area in close proximity of each other, using six different vehicles and on foot.
Sam was a 31 year old former political prisoner who was arrested at the age of 17 in 1976, and had joined the Blanket Protest in the H-Blocks when sentenced in 1977, until his release.
On the night of his murder, Sam was due to sign bail at Lurgan RUC station at a time known only to him, his two co-accused, their solicitor and the RUC. A report by the Historical Enquiries Team confirmed that undercover soldiers manned the RUC observation post as Sam attended to sign bail and left afterwards. Upon leaving Lurgan RUC station, Sam was followed by two soldiers on foot for approximately 100 yards. He was then murdered by the UVF.
The two soldiers said they "lost" Sam seconds before the murder. At least two gunmen were involved and they were able to leave the area unhindered and unharmed, despite it being saturated by armed soldiers.
In April 2024, the death of Sam Marshall was the longest outstanding inquest in this jurisdiction to have had no substantive hearing.
On 30 April 2024, the Coroner presiding over Sam's inquest declared that the inquest was not viable due to the high levels of relevant sensitive information protected by British Government issued Public Interest Immunity Certificates.
The Coroner then wrote to the Secretary of State, Hilary Benn MP and asked that he consider announcing a public inquiry into Sam's murder.
The Secretary of State met Sam's family and their solicitor in September 2024. He later declined their demand for a public inquiry. This decision is currently the subject of a legal challenge before the High Court in Belfast, and was further adjourned by the Court earlier this week.
36 years after his murder – and for 5 years longer than Sam Marshall lived on this earth – the British state continues to conceal the truth of his murder.
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