Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
BROTHER OF
JOHN Sproule’s life has played out on a loop for decades with new days launching him into hope and the old days dragging him back to sorrow.
Every one has been the same for the last 30 years, ambushed by flashbacks of his youngest brother’s laughter and antics, then the image of him slumped over the steering wheel of his car, a victim of bloody murder.
Tomorrow marks the 30th anniversary of Ian Sproule’s assassination outside his family home in Co Tyrone.
Not only was his life snuffed out aged 23, but an attempt was made by his killers to destroy his reputation and that of his family after his murder prompted public outrage.
No one was ever caught for his killing, no one questioned and the identity of his killers remains a mystery.
But there is no doubt the IRA executed the young joiner, his crime according to his family was the religion he was born into, the culture he loved.
Today aged 57, his brother John is still fighting for justice.
He said: “Thirty years or 30 days, it makes no difference. We might still stand here in disbelief and grief, but we stand firm in our determination to get answers, and we stand together as a family to get justice.
“Today Ian should be 53, he should have a wife and family and a plan to retire, he should have lived a full life and be ready for more.
“But no, he’s in the ground, buried before our mother and father, shot down like an animal by people who hated him because of his Protestant background.”
April 12, 1991, had been an ordinary Friday in the Sproule household on Lisleen Road, Killen, near Castlederg.
Ian cleaned up after work with his builder father Robert, and attended a birthday party in Harry’s Bar in the town before leaving early ahead of a 5am start for work.
As he did every time he got home, he stepped out of the car to open the garage door leaving the engine running, before getting back in. But 1am on April 13, 1991, would be the last time that routine would play out.
Three IRA terrorists who had been lying in wait in an outhouse opened fire from close range. Forty-four bullets were blasted into the blue Mazda, and Ian died instantly.
The noise woke his parents, Robert and Jean, and when Robert ran outside to investigate, he found his youngest son’s lifeless body.
He went in to call for help and as he waited for the police and ambulance, the phone rang and a voice asked: “Have you found the mess we left outside for you?”.
John said: “We never recovered. My mother faded away, my father fell into a silent
KILLED
Ian Sproule
MEMORIAL Ian’s grave sorrow there was no coming back from, he was gone too both dying within months of each other seven years later.
“My brother Norman, sister Jennifer and myself were broken. We walked on through the months and years but his loss wrecked us.
“I’ve a wonderful wife and two fantastic sons and life should be good, but my heart is sore.
“I’ll never get Ian back, I’ll never undo the damage done to us, or get the years back, but I’ll complete the promise I made to fight for justice for my brother. “Ian was known to us all as Cracker because he was