Why IRA killers of the Pearson boys were guilty of a war crime

IN letters (December 4) on the awful killing of the Pearson brothers of Coolacrease in Co Offaly, Fr Brian Murphy OSB and Paddy Heaney fly in the face of facts.

What Mr Heaney refers to as alleged shooting of an IRA man near the Pearson lands is merely reported rumour given at the inquest as to why this atrocity was carried out. This is reinforced by Niamh Sammon’s excellent research and reporting for the Hidden History series.

In any event, even if these rumours were true, we find the apologists for these murders describing it as an “execution” carried out on lawful orders.