Kingsmill Massacre Inquest Launched

A new inquest is to be launched into the Kingsmill massacre, in which 10 Protestant textile workers were killed by the IRA in 1976.

The attack is now considered to be one of the worst atrocities carried out during the Troubles.

It happened on 5 January 1976, when twelve workers were travelling home through County Armagh.

The van in which they were travelling was ambushed by a group of armed men who then asked the workers their religion.

The only Catholic man among the twelve men was allowed to go free and ran off. The gunmen then opened fire.

One man survived despite being shot 18 times.

The IRA has never admitted involvement, and the name South Armagh Republican Action Force was used to claim the murders.

But a 2011 report by the Historical Enquiries Team (HET) found that members of the Provisional IRA had carried out the attack, despite the organisation supposedly being on ceasefire.

Ulster Unionist MLA Danny Kennedy said he welcomed the decision by the Attorney General to begin a new inquest into the deaths.

"However, given the current workload indicated by the Senior Coroner, it is vital that this inquest should be brought forward to the earliest possible date, and with this in mind I will be requesting a meeting with the Justice Minister asking that the necessary resources are provided to the Coroner to enable this case to be taken as soon as possible," he added.

The DUP's Jeffrey Donaldson said: "The inquest will examine the circumstances of this terrorist act and the causes of death but will not have the power to arrest or follow up on new lines of inquiry.

"The Kingsmill families have not seen anyone brought to justice for this heinous crime. This inquest, whilst helpful in re-examining the circumstances, will not lead to prosecutions. I also have doubts about the resources which the Coroner has and the current backlog of cases to be considered.

"Prosecutions can only come with a thorough police investigation, examining the evidence that has been presented on behalf of the families. Evidence that points clearly to the involvement of the Provisional IRA in these vile sectarian murders."

SDLP MLA for Newry and Armagh Dominic Bradley also welcomed the ruling.

"The families of the victims have the right to the truth of what happened on the night their loved ones were murdered and where possible to the prosecution of anyone proven to be responsible in any way," he said.

"I believe that it is also now timely for the HET to publish its long awaited report on the Glenanne Gang. All victims' families deserve to know the truth and there should be no cover-up or protection of individuals who were involved in murderous activity whether acting on behalf of paramilitary groups or state agencies. The truth must out. If new inquests into the Kingsmills murders bring the families closer to the truth then that is to be welcomed. If there are grounds for prosecutions then that course of action should be pursued."

(IT/JP)