The Taoiseach is likely to meet relatives of victims of one of the North’s bloodiest sectarian massacres within the next two months, it emerged yesterday.
Mr Kenny has indicated a willingness to have talks with the families of 11 Protestants who were gunned down by an armed gang, posing as members of the security forces, on a roadway at Kingsmills, south Armagh. One of the victims survived the gun attack on January 5th, 1976.
The men were lined up against a minibus in which they were returning from work and shot dead. One of the men on the bus, who was a Catholic, was ordered to walk down the road while the shooting took place.
The findings of a Historical Enquiries Team last year suggested the Provisional IRA was responsible for the Kingsmills massacre.
Last week, senior officials from the Government travelled to the North and met representatives of the families who were bereaved.
Newry MLA member Danny Kennedy, who was present at the private talks, said yesterday: “This was a preparatory meeting in advance of the proposed talks with Mr Kenny, which I am confident, will take place, in Dublin, in early September”.