Northern Ireland

Plea to remove SAS flags from Loughgall

The van used by some of the IRA men killed in Loughgall parked outside the village's RUC station
The van used by some of the IRA men killed in Loughgall parked outside the village's RUC station The van used by some of the IRA men killed in Loughgall parked outside the village's RUC station

Relatives of eight IRA members and a civilian killed by the British army in Co Armagh have called for the removal of SAS flags put up at the village where they died.

The nine men were shot dead during an SAS ambush in Loughgall on May 8, 1987.

The IRA unit had been preparing to carry out an attack on the village RUC station when the SAS launched its ambush.

Civilian Anthony Hughes, who was travelling through the village in a car with his brother, was also shot dead by British troops.

The IRA men who died were Jim Lynagh, Padraig McKearney, Gerard O'Callaghan, Tony Gormley, Eugene Kelly, Patrick Kelly, Seamus Donnelly and Declan Arthurs.

A statement issued by Mairead and Roisin Kelly on behalf of the The Loughgall Truth and Justice Campaign has called for the “immediate removal of these flags as they are offensive, disrespectful and a mark of triumphalism”.

“Someone needs to be held accountable for this action and charged with hate crime,” they said.

SAS flags have been put in Loughgall in previous years.

“This is a sustained campaign against the families of the nine men killed at Loughgall,” the campaigners said.

“No one should glorify or mock the deaths of anyone regardless of who that person was or what that person was doing at the time of their death.

“This causes stress and unnecessary grief to families who are already grieving the death of their loved ones.”

Mid Ulster Sinn Féin MP Francie Molloy said: “This is a sinister and provocative development which Sinn Féin has reported to the PSNI.”

Meanwhile, relatives of the dead men have called on authorities to release finding for legacy inquests.