The brother of a man murdered by the IRA 50 years ago has recounted the events of that fateful day and the effect it has had on his family as they prepare to remember him, half a century on.

Robin Bell was killed when he, along with his father, Sidney, and brother, Richard, were travelling to the farm, and the Provisional IRA set an ambush.

Robin was murdered and his father was injured; however, Richard was not physically injured.

“Robin didn’t die, he wasn’t killed, he wasn’t taken away from us – he was murdered and, indeed, assassinated 50 years ago by Provisional IRA terrorists on October 22, 1972,” said Richard Bell.

“The Provisional IRA were of course attempting to wipe out all the males in our family that fateful morning; Robin, my dad Sidney and myself.

“They had made a judgement that in removing the males from our family, that they were removing and cleansing our Border home and land from a Bell presence.

“My mum [Olive] was broken by the loss of Robin. I can’t imagine how she’d have coped if daddy and I were also murdered that day.”

Richard says the claim that the Bell men were targeted because they were members of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR), holds no water, but was carefully planned and designed.

Speaking about his brother, Richard continued: “Robin was a wonderful big brother to me and our sisters, Laura, Hilary, Doreen and Jennifer.

“Robin and I were very close; we grew up together, we shared a bedroom together, we farmed together, we socialised together and we soldiered together.

‘Stolen away’

“He was stolen away aged just 21 years; his life had but begun, and it is a travesty that Robin never had the opportunity to marry, to have his own children and grandchildren.

“He was so well liked by everyone – or so we thought.”

Robin attended agricultural college in Strabane, and after serving in the ‘B’ Specials he joined the UDR upon its formation in 1970.

“Why did he join? The same reason I and so many others did: to play our part in defending the community – and I mean the whole community – from the scourge and threat of terrorism.

“We weren’t brought up to hate or treat our Roman Catholic neighbours badly, we were brought up to respect [everyone]; this was instilled in us by our late parents.”

Robin was a Boy Scout leader in Newtownbutler and a regular attender at Galloon Parish Church, which is where a 50th Anniversary Service will take place this Sunday, October 23, from 2.30pm onwards; giving thanks for his life and how he had lived it up until the point when he was murdered.

“We would like to see his friends, neighbours and former colleagues present on that day. All will be welcome from across the community.

“We have little confidence that justice will be served in this life; we do want there to be accountability for what happened, but it is questionable if the will exists to pursue these issues.

“But we are clear as a family that those responsible will have to meet their maker and no amount of ducking and diving will save them at that point – our Lord God in Heaven will deliver His perfect justice.

‘Murders’

“We are also conscious that the day after Robin’s anniversary will be the 50th anniversary since the murders of Andrew Murray and Michael Naan; we make it clear as a family that these murders were also wrong, and this has always been our position.”

Kenny Donaldson, SEFF’s Director of Services, added: “We are privileged to be working with the Bell family in supporting them to organise a 50th anniversary Service of Remembrance and Thanksgiving, honouring Robin’s life.

“The Bell family represents the very best of Ulster people – they are Christians, hardworking and are good neighbours to all.

“The Provisional IRA’s efforts to murder all the males within the Bell family was an act of ethnic cleansing, but their mission failed.

‘Devastation’

“Yes, they brought devastation to the Bell family through the murder of Robin, the early death of Robin’s father Sidney, and the emotional turmoil caused to Robin’s late mummy, Olive, and his siblings, but the Bell family remain in the Newtownbutler area, and have developed their farm and augmented their presence in the area.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the Bell family, and our thoughts are also with the families of Andrew Murray and Michael Naan, who were murdered circa 36 hours later.

“We are clear that their murders were also unjustified, and [were] wholly wrong,” added Mr. Donaldson.