Tony O'Reilly, now 56, spoke about the murder of his father Anthony O'Reilly, 43, and uncle Myles O'Reilly, 41, during an attack on the Golden Pheasant Bar and Restaurant in Ballynahinch on March 9, 1976.

Masked armed men entered the premises and shot the two owners. They forced staff, O'Reilly's mother, and five-year-old O'Reilly into a keg room while planting bombs.

A staff member broke open a rear door, allowing everyone to escape minutes before the bombs detonated.

The family had relocated to Ballynahinch from west Belfast and lived on the premises. The father and uncle had expanded the small bar into a restaurant that drew customers from across Ireland.

O'Reilly stated the family was targeted because they were Catholics. Police obtained convictions on lesser charges, but the gunmen and planners were never apprehended.

O'Reilly said his mother, a nurse left to raise eight children alone, received a victims payment before passing away last August.

He credited support from victims group SEFF, specifically Joanne Dorrian, for assistance to the family.

O'Reilly expressed reluctance to pursue those responsible, citing risks of renewed anger. He emphasized maintaining peace and avoiding revenge, noting the family rejected paths of retaliation.

He described a childhood in Co Down where neighbors took him to Orange Order marches and St Patrick's Day events. Perpetrators came from outside the area.

O'Reilly called for the next generation to build a brighter future and prevent another generation from enduring similar experiences.