Victims' families have issued a fresh call for justice for 10 men killed in the Kingsmill massacre, as the 50th anniversary of the atrocity approaches. Commemorative services are planned this weekend and Monday to remember the Protestant workmen shot dead by republican gunmen in January 1976 outside Kingsmill village in County Armagh.
Republican gunmen posing as British soldiers stopped a minibus carrying workmen, asked their religion, ordered the only Catholic passenger to leave, then opened fire on the remaining 11 Protestant men. Ten died at the scene. Alan Black survived despite being shot 18 times and continues to carry physical injuries and psychological trauma.
Decades without accountability
No one has ever been convicted for the murders. In 2024, a coroner described the massacre as "an overtly sectarian attack by the IRA."
Kenny Donaldson, a victims campaigner with the SEFF group, said: «For 50 years the Kingsmill families have been denied justice, truth and accountability for a crime which was amongst the most depraved of the terror campaign.»
Families' dignity and demands
The bereaved families and survivor Black have maintained remarkable composure over five decades. «The Kingsmill bereaved families and survivor Alan Black, who daily carries psychical injury and psychological horrors, have held themselves with immense dignity throughout the last five decades; they have not uttered words of vengeance or sentiments of wanting retaliation,» Donaldson said.
He added: «What they do however demand is that justice, truth and accountability be served and it is a stain not only on the UK and Republic Of Ireland Governments but moreover the local community of South Armagh that those remain within their midst who have not been held accountable for their crimes against humanity.»
Raw pain remains
Donaldson expressed thoughts and prayers for all impacted families, including the Reavey and O'Dowd families who were targeted by loyalist gunmen shortly before the Kingsmill massacre. He stated all acts of terror were unjustified and unjustifiable.
«For those immediately involved with Kingsmill the pain will be as raw now as it was at the time,» Donaldson said. «Sadly many first generation Kingsmill victims went to their graves without ever seeing accountability for what occurred.»
A religious service will be held this weekend, followed by a service at the scene on Monday.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
