Armagh massacre is remembered

Relatives remembered their loves ones

A commemoration service to mark the 25th anniversary of the murder of 10 Protestant workmen by republicans, has been held in south Armagh

The Kingsmills Massacre was one of the worst single sectarian attacks in the history of the Troubles in Northern Ireland.

On 5 January 1976, a minibus carrying Protestant mill workers was stopped. The men were lined up and 10 of them were shot dead.

The attack was carried out by a group calling itself the South Armagh Republican Action Force, which was widely believed to have been made up of IRA members.

Only one man, Alan Black, survived the attack despite being shot 18 times.

Another workman on the bus, a Catholic, was ordered away from the scene.

It is believed the men were killed in retaliation for the murder of six Catholics by loyalist paramilitaries the previous night.

Those shootings happened in Whitecross and Lurgan in County Armagh.

Nine of the Kingsmills victims lived in Bessbrook, while the minibus driver was from Mount Norris.

Victim's mother Edith Wharton did not see her son's body

The families of the victims laid wreaths at the scene of the attack, on the road between Whitecross and Bessbrook, on Friday.

Some also took a minibus journey along the route taken by the van carrying the workmen 25 years ago.

William Frazer of the south Armagh-based victims' group, Families Acting for Innocent Relatives, was among those who attended the ceremony and spoke of the bitter legacy of the massacre.

"Our people are just so sickened," he said. "This was one of the worst atrocities carried out in Northern Ireland.

"They fired 200 rounds into a group of men. I don't know what sort of animal could do it."

Edith Wharton, a mother of one of the victims, said: "He was just coming home to two wee girls in Bessbrook and he was just mowed down.

"We didn't see him at all. His coffin wasn't opened. We just buried a box. We don't know what was in it."

No-one was ever charged over the murders. But some relatives still live in hope.

Sidney Walker, a brother of one of the victims, said: "I only hope they get what they deserve, because I can't forgive them."

The relatives hope to erect a permanent memorial at the site.