Family call for fresh inquest into Strabane teenager's death

THE brother of a Strabane teenager found dead in the River Mourne almost 50 years ago says he will never give up seeking justice for his sister.

Raymond Barr, who is now calling for a fresh inquest into her death, was speaking after a new Troubles investigation body refused to examine her case.

Denise O'Donnell was just 19 years-old when her body was found submerged in eight inches of water 100 yards from her Ballycolman Estate home.

She had been making her way home from a night out with friends in Donegal when she went missing in the early hours of November 20, 1976.

Her body was found the next day with injuries to her head and body.

An inquest ruled she had drowned, but her family have always believed there was foul play involved.

A local GP called to identify her body at the scene said the extent of her injuries led him to believe this too.

"I have absolutely no doubt that Denise was murdered," Raymond said.

"Denise was found in eight inches of water with extensive head, face and neck injuries, with bruising on the arms and legs also."

The teenager had been to a dance in Letterkenny and upon returning via bus to Lifford, she walked into Strabane with two friends.

As the group said their goodbyes, they met a man - who they all knew - at the top of the Main Street and her friends asked him to walk Denise safely home.

When she failed to return, a search operation was launched and her body was discovered the following day in the river.

The man she was last seen with was questioned by police and the family believed charges were imminent, but the case was handed over to the RUC Special Branch and "from then on, the case effectively stopped", Mr Barr said.

Ultimately there were no prosecutions, and the man left town within weeks and never returned.

"This case screams corruption and nothing has changed since 1976 when we see the corruption around other cases," he added.

Mr Barr recently referred the case to the Independent Commission for Reconciliation and the Recovery of Information (ICRIR) in the hope the legacy body’s access to security files could give answers.

The ICRIR, which has the power to investigate deaths and serious injuries related to the Troubles/Conflict, has since ruled Denise's death was not related to the Troubles.

"I had approached the ICRIR more so in hope than expectation to be honest around eight months ago," Mr Barr continued.

"Given our experiences over the past 49 years, the decision is disappointing but not surprising, but I was astounded when they informed me her case does not satisfy their criteria, and therefore they weren't going to investigate the case because they didn't consider it to be conflict related.

"If the ICRIR had done due diligence when assessing my application to have them review Denise's death and if, as they told me, they had access to Special Branch and MI5 files - they would have seen it was conflict related."

The original inquest into Denise's death was described as "a sham" by Mr Barr, but efforts for a fresh hearing have since have been refused.

"The family were actually never informed about it and we only found out about it from a potential juror who had told us they had been called to sit on the jury," he said.

"Denise's body was discovered by a British Army foot patrol which had been walking along Meetinghouse Street on the opposite side of the river and yet none of those soldiers were called to give evidence.

"The pathologist wasn't called to give evidence, and most importantly, the last known person to see her alive wasn't called to give evidence at the inquest."

Although he feels efforts to have the case reexamined have been "frustrated at every juncture", Mr Barr remains resolute in his determination and hope of finding out what happened to his sister.

"Denise deserves justice," he said. "She was a vivacious, young, happy go lucky girl who trusted everybody and had so much ahead of her.

"It has taken its toll on the family; my mother never got over Denise's death and she died less than three years later."

Denise's older brother Ivan Barr, who passed away in 2008, was a leading civil rights activist and a republican politician, and spent many years trying to uncover the truth of her death.

He also produced a comprehensive 42-page dossier on the case, which included witness statements, and this was submitted to police, but ultimately the investigation has never been reopened.

"That has encouraged me to keep this going. I am not going to give up. Until my last breath, I will continue to keep fighting to get justice for her," Mr Barr vowed.

"A new inquest into her death is the minimum that we, as a family, can expect."

Mr Barr urged anyone who has any information on Denise's death to come forward.

The PSNI’s Legacy Investigation Branch has also been asked to reopen the case.

In a statement, the ICRIR said: “The Commission recognises the ongoing impact of the loss of Denise and our sympathies are with her family.

"We do not routinely comment on individual cases but are always willing to meet requesting individuals to discuss their request.”

Detective Superintendent Millar, from the Police Service's Legacy Investigation Branch, said: "From the outset, I wish to acknowledge the profound effect that Ms O'Donnell's death continues to have on her family.

"I can confirm that, as this matter was previously reviewed by police in 2012, it does not currently sit within LIB's caseload for future review.

"A formal request was made to LIB on Friday, August 22, for this case to be reviewed, and in order for us to progress further, additional documentation has been requested.

"As a victim-led service, with families who have lost loved ones at the centre of our work, LIB will reach out to Ms O'Donnell's family in due course and ensure that their concerns are heard."