Dunblane massacre victim’s sister opens up about family grief 30 years on

WorldPolitics
13 Mar 2026 • 4:01 PM MYT
The Independent
The Independent

The world’s most free-thinking newspaper

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  • The 30th anniversary of the devastating Dunblane massacre, the deadliest mass shooting in British history, is being marked.
  • On 13 March 1996, Thomas Hamilton murdered 16 Primary One children, including Ross Irvine, and their teacher Gwen Mayor, before taking his own life.
  • Rachael Irvine, Ross's sister, who never met him, described her family's enduring grief as “a wound that’s there forever”.
  • The tragedy led to the UK Government swiftly introducing a ban on most handguns.
  • Ms Irvine has joined the Gun Control Network to advocate for stricter gun control laws and educate younger generations on their significance.

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