Ulster Unionist MLA Danny Kennedy has welcomed the findings that the IRA gang which attacked Loughgall Police Station in May 1987 were the first to open fire, triggering the response by the SAS which left eight terrorists dead. 

Mr Kennedy, who represents Newry & Armagh, the constituency in which the event took place, said;

“I look forward to the publication of the HET Report into the Loughgall incident, but some facts are already very clear.

In May 1987 the quiet town of Loughgall came to national prominence when the IRA suffered its single biggest loss of life during its terrorist campaign. This must be set in context amidst the events of the time because in the previous month the IRA had murdered two UDR men, three RUC officers plus Lord Justice Gibson and his wife.
If, as the leaked report says, the IRA gang opened fire as they approached the Police Station, in the belief that they were firing at RUC officers, then the terrorists clearly they posed a threat to life.

Indeed this would merely confirm the ruling of the European Court of Human Rights of 4th May 2001 which stated “A man, dressed in blue overalls and wearing a balaclava, emerged from the rear of the van and began to walk into the roadway. He raised his rifle and began to shoot at the RUC station.” It was at this point that the soldiers opened fire. The ECHR ruling, taken in conjunction with the HET findings certainly nail the lie of the so-called “Loughgall martyrs” and the questions as to why the terrorists involved weren’t arrested.  

I must confess that I was always rather puzzled as to precisely how one would be able to “safely arrest” eight heavily armed men in possession of a 200lb bomb, but that’s another story. 

Like many others I was also amazed at the fact that the court awarded £10,000 compensation to the families of each the eight dead terrorists.   

Several other facts must be borne in mind. It must never be forgotten that IRA were the ones who operated a shoot-to-kill policy. They did not take prisoners unless those individuals – such as Jean McConville –were to be murdered.  

Furthermore, guns recovered after the Loughgall incident were found to have been used in at least seven murders. It is perfectly clear that innocent lives were saved as a result of the Loughgall operation.”