A New book has suggested that loyalist paramilitaries targeted middle class Catholics in a policy of economic ethnic cleansing.
Journalist Anne Cadwallader and The Pat Finucane Centre combined 15-years of research, linking hundreds of murders in the Co Armagh and Tyrone areas by a gang of loyalists linked to the Ulster Defence Regiment and RUC.
Her research suggests killings of upwardly mobile and affluent Catholics, many with strong links to the GAA, were more than just sectarian in nature but designed to prevent nationalists owning land or gaining influence in rural areas.
Ms Cadwallader said: "we took away all the killings from that time that were randomly sectarian in nature and then examined who was left to see if we could establish a link.
"what we were left with was a list of people, who either owned land or businesses or were in the process of buying land or building a home.
"They were what has been described as 'uppity Catholics' people of influence with standing in the community they lived".
By researching military files, RUC investigations and more recently the Police Ombudsman and the Historical enquiries Team, the investigative reporter mapped out a trail of terror that links one gang to more than 120 murders.
In her book Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland Ms Cadwallader found ballistics linked many of the weapons used directly to guns 'stolen' from the UDR
"Dozens of UDR guns were going missing every week and records show that at no stage did the RUC carry out an investigation into this loss of weapons, many of which went on to be used in scores of sectarian murders", Ms Cadwallader said.
Robin 'the Jackal' Jackson, who was believed to be personally responsible for pulling the trigger in up to 50 killings, was leader of the gang of sectarian killers. Evidence uncovered by Ms Cadwallader shows not only were the RUC aware of Jackson's activities from an early stage, they also went to great lengths to scupper investigations that could have placed him behind bars.
Jackson was never brought to justice and was still active shortly before his death from cancer at the age of 49 in 1998.
The number of people he killed ranges from a conservative estimate of 50 up to more than 100, along with a killer gang that included brothers John and Wesley Somerville who were also former members of the UDR.
The brothers from Moygashal were involved in murders including the deaths of three members of the Miami Show Band in July 1975. Wesley Somerville died when the bomb he was planting in the back band's minibus exploded prematurely.
"Certainly, if Jackson did not pull the trigger himself, he is estimated to have been involved in the murders of scores of ordinary Catholics", said Ms Cadwallader.
"He had a corrupt and indefensible relationship with enough RUC
officers to protect him from ever facing a murder charge, leaving him free to continue killing people for over two decades from 1973 to the 1990s".
Jackson joined D Company of 11 UDR, based at Scarva Barracks, Ban-bridge, in August 1973 and within two months there was an arms raid at the armoury used by his unit.
He was named by a man on whose property police discovered a significant arms cache.
However, it was two weeks before the police searched his home in Lurgan. Between being named and the raid, Jackson is believed to have shot dead Banbridge trade unionist and father of three, Patrick Campbell.
It was part of a pattern of killings of professional, influential, middle class Catholics, many with strong links to the GAA. When the RUC eventually searched Jackson's house they found bullets and a notebook containing details of more than two dozen people, including car registration numbers.
He would later be pointed out in a line up by the widow of Mr Campbell but never faced trial.
This charge along with those of having ammunition and personal details of Catholics were dropped by the DPP who ruled there was insufficient evidence.
* Lethal Allies: British Collusion
in Ireland will be launched this Saturday, October 26, at St Mary's College, Falls Road by political commentator Brian Feeney.
* AUTHOR: Anne Cadwallader with a copy of her book Lethal Allies: British Collusion in Ireland pictured with Alan Brecknell, whose father Trevor was shot dead in a pub in south Armagh on December 19 1975
PICtURE: Aidan O'Reilly