New award in memory of Henry Cunningham

The Henry Cunningham Human Rights Essay will be available to any fourth year secondary student in the Inishowen peninsula with the schools shortlisting essays to be judged by Professor Christine Bell, of the Transitional Justice Institute/ University of Ulster.

The presentation of the annual €500 busary will be made by Robert Cunningham, brother of the deceased.

Henry was killed when gunmen opened fire on a minibus on the M2 Motorway near Belfast in 1973. It is thought that the UVF gunmen believed that the occupants of the Donegal-registered bus were Catholic. Henry's family are Presbyterian.

Robert and Herbert Cunningham have welcomed news of the award: "For many years, we feel that Henry was forgotten - even here in Donegal. This award is a positive way of remembering Henry in Inishowen and ensuring that good comes out of something evil - the murder of a 16 year boy.

"In future, young people at the five local secondary schools in Inishowen will be encouraged to take part in this annual award by writing an essay about human rights on the island of Ireland.

"We are remembering our brother in a positive way and, hopefully, giving something back to young people in the area.

"We can never bring Henry back but his name will forever be associated with the need to protect human rights and that's a good thing.

"This present government have shown more concern than the government at the time and that is to be welcomed."

Paul O Connor, of the Pat Finucane Centre - which handled the Cunninghams' case - also welcomed the news: "We accompanied family members to a meeting with Minister Micheal Martin TD in July 2009. We presented him with the Historical Enquiries Team (HET) report into the case which divulged that one of the guns used had been 'stolen' from a UDR base earlier that year.

"Documents that we uncovered in London showed that the British Army had concluded that this 'theft' involved collusion with members of the UDR in the same base.

"At the meeting with Minister Martin, we talked about the idea of remembering Henry within the north Donegal community. It was thought that it would be a positive development if an annual prize could be awarded in his name within the context of a human rights essay for secondary students. After discussion with the five schools in the area, it was agreed that this would be a fitting tribute to young Henry. The Department of Foreign Affairs in Dublin have now confirmed to us that monies will be made available.

"The support of the Irish Government is greatly appreciated by both the family and the local community."