The Independent Commission for Reconciliation and Information Recovery (ICRIR) has published its first report, concluding that Rory O’Kelly was murdered by the Provisional IRA because of his employment with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions for Northern Ireland (DPP).

Mr O’Kelly, 59, was shot dead at Lyttle’s Bar in Coalisland on 4 March 1977 after returning home to attend a funeral. He was a founding member of the SDLP and a father of five.

A solicitor in private practice since 1947, Mr O’Kelly joined the DPP as an assistant director in 1973, with responsibility for Armagh and Down. He relocated his family from Coalisland to Bangor upon taking the post.

The report notes that after the murder, a DPP spokesperson said Mr O’Kelly had been involved in no controversial cases or those linked to the security situation. The ICRIR found he was killed for the sole reason that he worked for the DPP.

Mr O’Kelly was the first DPP member killed during the conflict, and at the time the fifth person holding judicial office or working in the legal profession killed by the Provisional IRA.

The ICRIR found the murder was part of a broader campaign against people considered representatives of the British state and judicial system, but could not identify the gunman.

Mr O’Kelly’s daughter Anne Frances O’Kelly said learning the circumstances of her father’s death was transformative, and that despite a happy life away from Northern Ireland, she retained a deep feeling of loss. She expressed hope for a just outcome for all who have come to the ICRIR for answers.

Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Chris Bryant called it a momentous day for the family, noting the transformative impact of the information. He said many families have waited too long for answers and looked forward to a steady rhythm of ICRIR reports as it transitions to the Legacy Commission under the NI Troubles Bill.