A book written by Co. Meath journalist Ken Murray, has been shortlisted for the prestigious UK Crimecon Awards 2026. Titled, The Killing of the Reavey Brothers. British Murder and Cover-up in Northern Ireland, tells the horrific story of how two brothers, Brian and John Martin were shot dead by members of the UVF Glennane Gang at Whitecross South Armagh on January 4 th 1976.
A third brother, Anthony, who was also shot, died three weeks later in mysterious circumstances when agents from British military intelligence, broke into his bedroom and injected him with poison. Speaking this week, author Ken Murray from Duleek said: ‘I’m somewhat shocked to make the shortlist.
‘The book has received rave reviews from newspapers and critics in the north of Ireland but the competition in the UK is pretty outstanding so to get this far, is fantastic.’ The publication reveals that those responsible for the killings were never questioned by the RUC even though the names of those responsible are published for the first time in the book. The wider gang also killed three members of the O’Dowd family in Ballydougan Co. Armagh on January 4 th 1976. The O’Dowd family subsequently re-located to Navan.
The same UVF gang was responsible for the 1974 Dublin/Monaghan bombings which murdered 33 people and the 1975 Miami Showband Massacre outside Newry in which five were killed including three members of the Band. The book reveals that the Glennane Gang had the encouragement, assistance and protection of certain rogue members of the RUC, British Army, UDR and MI5 who were intent on
provoking the IRA out of ceasefire at the time. The sinister activities of the Gang are currently being investigated as part of ‘Operation Denton’.
Eugene Reavey, who has been engaged in ongoing legal battles with the British since 1976 in the quest for answers, said: ‘We are delighted to be nominated. ‘We have been getting fantastic feedback about the Book and it would now appear that the literary community in Britain have also been shocked by its contents so let’s see what happens in June. ‘Hopefully the growing profile of this book will help us to get long-awaited answers.’
Also published in the book for the first time is the shocking revelation that elements within the British Army worked with compromised members of the IRA to carry out the nearby Kingsmill massacre at which 10 protestant workmen were taken from a mini-bus and shot dead less than 24 hours after the Reavey killings which occurred less than a mile away.
The book features confirmation from Belfast solicitor Kevin Winters that the British obtained 7 Public Interest Immunity certificates to ensure that the details of the Kingsmill massacre will never be released to the public. Worst of all for the Reavey Family is the accidental discovery that the British military put an 84-year embargo in place meaning that details on the killing of their three brothers will remain sealed until 2056.
The only other Irish book nominated at Crimecon UK is Kincora: Britain’s Shame – Mountbatten, MI5, the Belfast Boys’ Home Sex Abuse Scandal and the British Cover-Up by former BBC NI journalist Chris Moore. Mercier Press in Cork is also nominated for Publisher of the Year. The UK Crimecon Awards, which are part of a global network, take place in London on June 4 th next.
Among the 66-person judging panel are former Sky News crime correspondent, Martin Brunt, former BBC Panorama reporter John Sweeney, former RTE Crimecall Presenter David Harvey and Ian Rumsey of ITV.
Pictured above; L-R Ken Murray, Eugene Reavey and PSNI Chief Constable Jon Boucher at the Belfast launch last November.
