Two massacres show that violence is futile, says Miami Showband survivor

The two minibuses from the Kingsmill and Miami Showband atrocities will continue on their journeys forever, as they carry forward their message about the futility of violence, a survivor has said.

Stephen Travers (67) - who lived through the 1975 Miami Showband massacre by loyalists - was speaking after Barry McElduff resigned as West Tyrone MP.

The Sinn Fein politician stepped down following widespread condemnation over a Twitter video apparently mocking the 1976 Kingsmill massacre in which 10 Protestant workmen were shot dead by the IRA. Only one man, Alan Black, survived.

Yesterday, Mr Travers tweeted: "Although riddled with bullets, the Kingsmill minibus together with The Miami Showband minibus, bombed and blown to pieces, will continue forever, on their shared journey into history, to carry their indisputable testimony of the futility of violence."

Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, the father-of-one said he posted the tweet because "at times reports about serious atrocities that happened are used to bolster a political agenda".

"They don't help when it comes to reconciliation," he added. "We don't believe it's helpful to use an atrocity on one side or the other as a stick to beat the others with.

"We're keen to promote the fact that these atrocities don't divide us. In fact, they bring us together."

The bass guitarist miraculously survived the attack on July 31, 1975, along with Belfast saxophonist Des Lee.

However, singer Fran O'Toole (29), trumpeter Brian McCoy (32) and guitarist Tony Geraghty (23) were all killed after their minibus was stopped at a bogus UDR checkpoint near Newry.

His friend Mr Black welcomed McElduff's resignation yesterday, but Cork-based Mr Travers said he "wouldn't comment on that".

Mr Travers, who has met the UVF, said he bears "no grudge whatsoever against any of the people who were involved in the Miami atrocity", adding: "I'd just like to see reconciliation between all of us."

He added: "I'd like the upshot of this to be that people understand that neither side has a monopoly on suffering or loss."

But he admitted that, over the years, it has been difficult living with being a survivor.

"You are living with it; you don't have to die to lose your life," he said.

"It contaminates you from the day it happens."

Mr Travers added: "All I ever wanted to be was a musician, a bass player. By its very nature a bass player stands back and lays down the groove.

"Up until January 30, 1975, I was one of the most head-hunted bass players in the country. After that, on July 31, 1975, bands couldn't afford to touch me.

"We were seen as something other than musicians. You couldn't possibly have someone like Des Lee or myself walk on the stage and expect people to dance around and enjoy themselves when they were being reminded all the time by looking up at the stage of a terrible atrocity.

"Our careers were gone. Our lives were blighted. I haven't spent one day without seeing the whole thing vividly in my mind."

He added: "It's not just nightmares, it's there all the time, but if you call that living, I'm sure it is."

Belfast Telegraph