South Armagh Republican Action Force
Encyclopedia
The South Armagh Republican Action Force was an alleged Irish republican
paramilitary
group that was active from 1975 to 1977 during the Troubles
in Northern Ireland
. Its area of activity was mainly the southern part of County Armagh
. According to writers such as Ed Moloney and Richard English
, it was a covername used by some members of the Provisional IRA South Armagh Brigade
. The journalist Jack Holland, however, alleged that the group was made up of members of the Irish National Liberation Army
(INLA). According to Malcolm Sutton's database at CAIN
, at was responsible for 24 deaths during the conflict, all of whom were classified as civilians.
, County Armagh. The attack happened at about 10pm, when a group of Orangemen were holding a meeting inside. Two gunmen entered the hall and sprayed it with bullets while another stood outside and shot through a window. One of the Orangemen was an off-duty Royal Ulster Constabulary
(RUC) officer. He returned fire with a pistol and believed he hit one of the attackers. Five of the Orangemen, all Protestant
civilians, were killed while seven were wounded. The attackers also planted a 2 pound (0.90718474 kg) bomb outside the hall but it did not explode. A caller to the BBC claimed responsibility for the attack and said it was in retaliation for "the assassinations of fellow Catholics in Belfast
". Shortly after, the Orange Order called for the creation of a lawful militia
(or "Home Guard") to deal with republican paramilitaries.
. In that attack, its members stopped a minibus
near Kingsmill in County Armagh and shot dead the ten Protestant men who were traveling in it. Four of the dead were Orangemen. Up to eleven gunmen took part in the massacre and were led by a man "with a pronounced English accent". The group claimed that the attack was in retaliation for the killing of six Catholics the night before
and that there would be "no further action on our part" if loyalists
stopped their attacks. He added that the group had no connection with the IRA.
In contrast, a 2011 Historical Enquiries Team
investigation into the incident found that members of the Provisional IRA
had carried out the attack despite the organization being on ceasefire. It also found that the victims were targeted simply because of their religion.
. On the night of the Green killing, he had been at the house where the IRA man's body was found".
Irish Republicanism
Irish republicanism is an ideology based on the belief that all of Ireland should be an independent republic.In 1801, under the Act of Union, the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland merged to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
group that was active from 1975 to 1977 during the Troubles
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
in Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. Its area of activity was mainly the southern part of County Armagh
County Armagh
-History:Ancient Armagh was the territory of the Ulaid before the fourth century AD. It was ruled by the Red Branch, whose capital was Emain Macha near Armagh. The site, and subsequently the city, were named after the goddess Macha...
. According to writers such as Ed Moloney and Richard English
Richard English
Richard English is a historian from Northern Ireland. He was born in Belfast in 1963. His father, Donald English was a prominent Methodist preacher. He studied as an undergraduate at Keble College, Oxford, and subsequently at Keele University, where he was awarded a PhD in History...
, it was a covername used by some members of the Provisional IRA South Armagh Brigade
Provisional IRA South Armagh Brigade
The South Armagh Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army operated during the Troubles in south County Armagh. It was organised into two battalions, one around Jonesborough and another around Crossmaglen. By the 1990s, the South Armagh Brigade was thought to consist of about 40 members,...
. The journalist Jack Holland, however, alleged that the group was made up of members of the Irish National Liberation Army
Irish National Liberation Army
The Irish National Liberation Army or INLA is an Irish republican socialist paramilitary group that was formed on 8 December 1974. Its goal is to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and create a socialist united Ireland....
(INLA). According to Malcolm Sutton's database at CAIN
Conflict Archive on the Internet
CAIN is a database containing information about Conflict and Politics in Northern Ireland from 1968 to the Present. The project began in 1996, with the website launching in 1997. The project is based within the University of Ulster at its Magee campus...
, at was responsible for 24 deaths during the conflict, all of whom were classified as civilians.
Tullyvallen attack
On 1 September 1975, it claimed responsibility for a gun attack on Tullyvallen Orange Hall near NewtownhamiltonNewtownhamilton
Newtownhamilton is a small village in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. It is within the townland of Tullyvallan and the barony of Upper Fews. It is part of the Newry and Mourne District Council area...
, County Armagh. The attack happened at about 10pm, when a group of Orangemen were holding a meeting inside. Two gunmen entered the hall and sprayed it with bullets while another stood outside and shot through a window. One of the Orangemen was an off-duty Royal Ulster Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
(RUC) officer. He returned fire with a pistol and believed he hit one of the attackers. Five of the Orangemen, all Protestant
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
civilians, were killed while seven were wounded. The attackers also planted a 2 pound (0.90718474 kg) bomb outside the hall but it did not explode. A caller to the BBC claimed responsibility for the attack and said it was in retaliation for "the assassinations of fellow Catholics in Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
". Shortly after, the Orange Order called for the creation of a lawful militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
(or "Home Guard") to deal with republican paramilitaries.
Kingsmill attack
On 5 January 1976, it claimed responsibility for the Kingsmill massacreKingsmill massacre
The Kingsmill massacre took place on 5 January 1976 near the village of Kingsmill in south County Armagh, Northern Ireland. Ten Protestant men were taken from a minibus and shot dead by a group calling itself the South Armagh Republican Action Force...
. In that attack, its members stopped a minibus
Minibus
A minibus or minicoach is a passenger carrying motor vehicle that is designed to carry more people than a multi-purpose vehicle or minivan, but fewer people than a full-size bus. In the United Kingdom, the word "minibus" is used to describe any full-sized passenger carrying van. Minibuses have a...
near Kingsmill in County Armagh and shot dead the ten Protestant men who were traveling in it. Four of the dead were Orangemen. Up to eleven gunmen took part in the massacre and were led by a man "with a pronounced English accent". The group claimed that the attack was in retaliation for the killing of six Catholics the night before
Reavey and O'Dowd killings
The Reavey and O'Dowd killings took place on 4 January 1976 in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. Volunteers from the Ulster Volunteer Force , a loyalist paramilitary group, shot dead five Catholic civilians – two from the Reavey family and three from the O'Dowd family – in two co-ordinated attacks....
and that there would be "no further action on our part" if loyalists
Ulster loyalism
Ulster loyalism is an ideology that is opposed to a united Ireland. It can mean either support for upholding Northern Ireland's status as a constituent part of the United Kingdom , support for Northern Ireland independence, or support for loyalist paramilitaries...
stopped their attacks. He added that the group had no connection with the IRA.
In contrast, a 2011 Historical Enquiries Team
Historical Enquiries Team
The Historical Enquiries Team is a unit of the Police Service of Northern Ireland set up in September 2005 to investigate the 3,269 unsolved murders committed during the Troubles ....
investigation into the incident found that members of the Provisional IRA
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
had carried out the attack despite the organization being on ceasefire. It also found that the victims were targeted simply because of their religion.
Hugh Clarke killing
On 7 April 1977, it claimed responsibility for shooting dead Protestant man Hugh Clarke at Tullymacreeve near Forkill, County Armagh. The book Lost Lives says that the IRA shot Clarke. It adds: "the IRA claimed Hugh Clarke was involved in the killing of IRA member John Francis GreenJohn Francis Green
John Francis Green , was a leading member of the North Armagh Brigade of the Provisional IRA, holding the rank of Staff Captain and Intelligence Officer. He was killed in a farmhouse outside Castleblayney, County Monaghan, by members of the Mid-Ulster Brigade of the Ulster Volunteer Force...
. On the night of the Green killing, he had been at the house where the IRA man's body was found".