ICRIR launches witness appeal for family of Alexander Millar

Mr Millar was a 54-year-old Citybus inspector and father of four. His family has come to the commission requesting an investigation to find the truth about his death.

The investigation is being led by Assistant Commissioner Amanda Logan. She said: “Alex was killed more 50 years ago and for all this time the Millar family have carried the pain of their loss.

“In many of our investigations the smallest details have proven vitally important. There may be people who witnessed the events of that day and have lived with their memories for over half a century. If you saw or heard anything that relates to Alex’s death, I encourage you to come forward to the Commission and share what you know.”

At approximately 2.40pm on Friday 2 May 1975, Mr Millar was working in the Timekeepers’ office at the former Ardoyne Citybus depot at the junction of Cranbrook Avenue and Ardoyne Road. Two gunmen entered the bus depot and shot him several times. After the attack, the gunmen were seen entering a waiting blue vehicle on Cranbrook Avenue. Mr Millar was critically injured and later died at the Royal Victoria Hospital.

On the evening of Friday 2 May 1975 an 18-year-old man was shot at Alliance Avenue and seriously injured but survived. This is believed to be linked to the shooting of Mr Millar earlier that day.

The commission is also interested in the movements of a yellow Ford Cortina in Tyndale Grove in the weeks leading up to the incident.

Assistant Commissioner Logan said the Millar family, along with many others the commission is working with, deserve answers: “In many cases, families who lost loved ones during the Troubles / Conflict are still waiting for the truth. The Commission’s job is to correct that and this appeal for information is critical to providing answers for Alex’s family.”

The witness appeal will involve distributing posters and an organised leaflet drop in the areas relating to the investigation.