Thirty years on from the Loughgall ambush members of the unionist community have little sympathy for the republicans who were killed.
Eight republicans and one civilian died when the IRA launched a gun and bomb attack on the Co Armagh police station.
Lagan Valley MP Jeffrey Donaldon last night insisted that the security operation launched in Loughgall was appropriate.
“I still believe what SAS did a at Loughgall was the right thing to do,” he said.
“This was a highly armed IRA unit responsible for countless murders in the east Tyrone and north Armagh areas and they were intent that day on destruction and taking life.”
And he rejected any suggestion there was a shoot-to-kill policy.
“We recognise that all families have the right to remember their loved ones but I cannot accept that what happened at Loughgall was some kind of shoot to kill policy,” he said.
“When people go out and act unlawfully and use guns and explosives to and kill, it’s right that the security forces should protect human life.”
