The Troubles in Darkley

The Troubles in Darkley recounts incidents during, and the effects of, the Troubles in Darkley, County Armagh, Northern Ireland.

Incidents in Darkley during the Troubles resulting in two or more fatalities:

1979

• 24 February 1979 - Martin McGuigan (16) and James Keenan (16), both Catholic civilians, were killed by a Provisional Irish Republican Army remote-controlled bomb hidden in a trailer and detonated when they walked past. It was parked on the roadside between Darkley and Keady, on the Newtownhamilton road. They were mistaken for a British Army foot patrol.^[1][2] Three of their friends were also seriously injured in the bombing which left a five foot crater in the road. The Garda Síochána questioned four men in the following days.^[3]

1983

• 20 November 1983 - David Wilson (44), Harold Brown (59) and Victor Cunningham (39), Protestant civilians and church elders, were shot dead in the entrance hall of Mountain Lodge Pentecostal Church near Darkley, County Armagh.^[4] Between 60 and 70 people were inside at the time, including about 20 children. The attack was carried out by two masked gunmen. After shooting the men at the entrance, they sprayed the building with gunfire, wounding seven people. One of the guns used had been used before in incidents for which the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) claimed responsibility.^[5] Dominic McGlinchey, INLA chief at the time, said that he had supplied one of the guns used but did not order the attack or approve of it.^[6] The attack was claimed by the "Catholic Reaction Force". No-one was ever charged with the killings.^[7]

References

1. "A Chronology of the Conflict - 1979". Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN). Retrieved 29 January 2010.
2. "Sutton Index of Deaths - 1979". Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN). Retrieved 29 January 2010.
3. "Four held after bomb kills two teenagers". Glasgow Herald. 26 February 1979. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
4. "Sutton Index of Deaths - 1983". Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN). Retrieved 5 December 2011.
5. "Darkley, Armagh: Shootings". House of Lords Hansard, 21 November 1983 vol 445 cc20-5. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
6. "Obituary: Dominic McGlinchey". The Independent (David McKittrick, 12 February 1994) (London, UK). 12 February 1994. Retrieved 5 December 2011.
7. "Darkley massacre - Memories of tragedy linger for villagers". News Letter (14 November 2008). Retrieved 5 December 2011.