 Gareth was the cousin of Tony Doris, an IRA member killed in an SAS ambush in the nearby village of Coagh on 3 June 1991 and a cousin of Sinn Fein leader Michelle O'Neill.According to Sinn Féin councillor Brendan Doris, another cousin of Gareth, "He absolutely denies being involved in terrorist activity of any description".Amnesty International raised its concerns over the shooting and the fact that no warning was given beforehand.