Northern Ireland

'IRA killers took Communion before leaving Mass and shooting my father dead'

Judge William Doyle's daughter Liz (right) pictured with her sister and mother, both called Frances
Judge William Doyle's daughter Liz (right) pictured with her sister and mother, both called Frances Judge William Doyle's daughter Liz (right) pictured with her sister and mother, both called Frances

A WOMAN has described how members of the IRA went to Mass and received Communion before shooting her father dead as he left the church.

Liz Doyle said her father, William Doyle, was targeted in 1983 by two IRA men in Belfast because he was a Catholic judge and "they thought he was working for the enemy."

Mr Doyle (57) was killed on January 16, 1983 at St Brigid's Church in Derryvolgie Avenue, south Belfast.

Speaking to Ryan Turbidy on RTÉ Radio 1 this morning, Ms Doyle described the moment the shooting happened, saying: "I heard the shots and I saw the people running. I actually saw the gunmen run past me.

Judge William Doyle was shot dead by the IRA in 1983 as he left Mass in south Belfast  
Judge William Doyle was shot dead by the IRA in 1983 as he left Mass in south Belfast   Judge William Doyle was shot dead by the IRA in 1983 as he left Mass in south Belfast  

"They handed off the gun to a young girl with a dog and she casually walked on."

Ms Doyle said her father grew up on the Falls Road and was "a Republican with a big 'R'".

"He believed that you should change things from the inside, that the only way the British would hear the irish voice is if you work with them," she said.

Following her father's death, Ms Doyle returned to school and was told off by nuns for taking a week off to grieve.

Liz Doyle now runs a dating agency called The Fine Dining Club 
Liz Doyle now runs a dating agency called The Fine Dining Club  Liz Doyle now runs a dating agency called The Fine Dining Club 

She left Belfast to continue her studies in England before moving to New York where she worked for Goldman Sachs, then Lehman Brothers but was made redundant in 2008 following the financial crash.

She currently runs dating agency The Fine Dining Club. She said the idea came about by hosting a dinner party with single friends.