Mid-Ulster UVF gang member Laurence Maguire has this morning pleaded guilty to conspiracy to murder all male members of the Cairns family in 1992, the year before the murders of brothers Rory and Gerard Cairns, whose anniversary occurs later this month. Maguire had admitted his role in the plot to the BBC's Mandy McAuley in a Spotlight Special, broadcast last in 2019. The programme also revealed that the leader of the Mid-Ulster UVF, a state run paramilitary gang, Billy Wright had been provided information by the RUC to target Catholics and that he was a state agent. Initially the PSNI did not proactively pursue this matter, despite the admissions. It is only because of the determination of the Cairns family, their legal team at Madden & Finucane Solicitors and support from Relatives For Justice that litigation was brought against the state, forcing it to act. Despite significant delays in the justice process, Maguire has pleaded guilty after a number of preliminary hearings. In the context of today's Commons debate on legacy legislation where investigations and justice are being shut down, and families are being told prosecutions are unattainable, this is an example of a family never giving up and forcing the justice system to work in favour of families and not perpetrators. Families should not be forced into this invidious position, but is a tribute to the tenacity of the indefatigable Cairns family.