Patrick Kelly

On the eighth of May 1987 eight IRA men, including Patrick Kelly, and one civilian were murdered by the SAS in Loughgall Co. Armagh. Another civilian was seriously wounded. The killings were carried out admittedly by the SAS, the British Army's military elite Special Air Services in joint operation with the Royal Ulster Constabulary [RUC].

1987
Loughgall
State Violence

54.4093603, -6.602905899999996

Loughgall is a small rural village it is the birthplace of the Orange order and an RUC barracks is located there. It was a limited part-time opening barracks. In a planned attack on the barracks eight members of the Irish Republican Army [IRA] and one civilian were killed by the SAS.

The circumstances of these killings have never been examined in a court of Law or by an independent investigative body. This was a carefully well-planned ambush by the SAS and RUC. They have stated in written documents that they had at least 24 hours prior notice of the IRA's intentions to bomb the unmanned barracks.

Related content

  • Kelly and others v the United Kingdom

    European Court of Human Rights
    04 May 2001
    This case taken to the European Court involving the families of those killed by the SAS at Loughgall, Co Armagh, in May 1987. Eight members of the IRA and a passing civilian were ambushed in most of the most controversial shoot-to-kill incidents of the Troubles.

  • Loughgall — a Search for the Truth

    Issued by the Loughgall Truth & Justice Campaign
    08 May 1987
    In June 1995 The Loughgall Truth and Justice campaign representing the nine men killed at Loughgall on May 8th 1987 was formed. The nine families came together to search for the truth behind the events of May 8th which left nine men dead. Their quest is simply for the truth to be told and heard and...