Miami Showband Survivor Reacts to Migrant Boat & Loyalist Bonfire
Miami Showband Survivor Appalled by Glorification of Killers
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Des Lee Speaks Out Against Monuments Honoring Bombing Perpetrators
Des Lee, a surviving member of the iconic Miami Showband, has expressed his profound dismay adn anger over the erection of monuments honoring the individuals responsible for the 1975 Miami Showband massacre. The bombing,which claimed the lives of three band members,remains one of the most brutal acts of terrorism during the troubles.
A Confession and a Lingering Pain
last year,the Sunday World brought to light a prison confession from John Somerville,detailing his involvement in the murder of Fran O’Toole,the band’s young singer and keyboard player. Somerville admitted to shooting O’Toole 22 times in the face after pursuing him into a field. He reportedly told a fellow loyalist prisoner, “I saw my brother blown to bits in the explosion and I went crazing. I just kept firing wildly.” Somerville later died of cancer after his release from prison.
Lee, speaking out about the ongoing pain caused by the massacre, revealed the deep emotional toll it continues to take. “There isn’t a day passes when he doesn’t think of his dead band mates,” he stated. “I relive what happened every day of my life.”
Appalled by the Party of Violence
The survivor’s outrage stems from what he perceives as the glorification of the perpetrators. “When I look at the glorifying of Wesley Somerville and Harris Boyle in Moygashel, I’m just appalled that people can celebrate murder,” Lee said, referring to memorials erected in thier honor.
He emphasized the inclusive nature of the Miami Showband, highlighting that their unity transcended religious divides. “The Miami Showband was made up of people of different faiths.Religion didn’t come into it,” Lee explained. This starkly contrasts with the sectarian motivations behind the attack.
Lee concluded with a poignant question that encapsulates his disbelief and sorrow: “How can you have a monument to people who murdered innocent young musicians? It beats me.” His words serve as a powerful reminder of the human cost of sectarian violence and the importance of remembering victims over perpetrators.