Kingsmills massacre remembered

Today marks the thirtieth anniversary of the murder by the IRA of 10 Protestants at Kingsmills in south Armagh.

Today marks the thirtieth anniversary of the murder by the IRA of 10 Protestants at Kingsmills in south Armagh.

Relatives of the victims of what has become known as the Kingsmill massacre gathered at the murder site this morning for a 30 minute memorial service for their loved ones.

The ten Protestant men were returning home to Bessbrook in Armagh by bus from work at a textile factory at Glennane in January 1976 when they were stopped by an armed gang at Kingsmills.

Each was asked his religion and one man, a Catholic, was allowed to flee  while his Protestant colleagues were lined up and shot. One man was hit 18 times but survived.

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A group calling itself the Republican Action Force claimed responsibility. However, it is believed that the name was used as a cover by the IRA.

The murders came a day after loyalist paramilitaries, allegedly aided by the RUC, murdered six members of two Catholic families in the area.