DOSSIER SHOWS RUC KNOW THE KILLERS
Dossier shows RUC know killers
14 Provos planned minibus massacre
THE dossier, each sheet marked confidential in bold letters, was put together by detectives after one of the worst atrocities of the Troubles and has been gathering dust for 23 years - until now.
The Kingsmill massacre sparked an unprecedented wave of revulsion towards republicans because of the way it was carried out.
Ten Protestants were gunned down in cold blood when the bus on which they were travelling was stopped by an armed gang.
An 11th Protestant, Alan Black, survived, but was maimed for life.
The only Roman Catholic on board escaped with his life after the killers told him to flee.
These papers reveal just how much the police knew about the atrocities at the time. They knew from the outset who the perpetrators were, where they lived, and what they looked like, even down to their individual complexion types. But none of the men named were ever charged.
A staggering quantity of ammunition, which included 70 rounds of Armalite bullets, was used by the gunmen.
The killers' blue van was met on the northern side of the border by a blue car. Police have always known who that car belonged to.
He was an active Provisional, who is thought to have played a major part in IRA attacks since. He is a free man today.
After the hijacking, the gang's van and the blue car travelled in convoy before finally splitting up.
The van was later discovered in Dundalk, but forensic tests failed to link it unequivocally to the massacre.
The weapons used were spirited away via the Tullywinney Road and handed to a receiver, who dumped them in manure pits in a disused barn.
The atrocity was planned down to the very last detail. Up to 15 men altogether were involved in gathering information on who would be travelling on the bus, what religion they were, and making sure the area of the ambush would be free from traffic.
Four men, who are named but cannot be identified for legal reasons, took up position at Priesbush, Graymillan, Whitecross, for up to two hours beforehand.
Their job was to divert vehicles away from where the ambush would take place.
None of the men wore masks, and police knew who they were hours after the event.
But they could never be prosecuted because no one would testify against them.
Investigating officers also believe five or six cars, with their drivers using radios, coordinated the whole operation.
One theory for why the massacre happened put forward at the time was that it was an act of retaliation for two IRA men murdered the day before.
But these papers prove otherwise. In fact plans to ambush the bus were hatched several weeks before and had nothing to do with the deaths the previous night
The final details of the killing were worked out by 14 PIRA members at a house in Carrickaran on December 31,1975 - five days before the atrocity.
One of them is allegedly a leading figure in the Real IRA, the terrorist organisation which carried out the Omagh bombing.
The ambush was largely set up an ex-paratrooper who lived over the border in the Republic at the time.
A policeman penned in the report: "An ex-paratrooper, residing south of the border is friendly with.. (a man who cannot be named for legal reasons).
"These two men set up the Kingsmill ambush (workers' bus), some weeks before the ambush took place on 5/1/76."
There are also personal profiles of each man who hijacked the bus and pulled the triggers, including their ages, addresses, height, weight, eye and hair colour.
Police raided their homes and a number of other addresses, but never succeeded in compiling a water-tight case against them.
The main obstacle, it seems, was locals' fear of the various personalities which made up the killing team.
14 Provos planned minibus massacre
THE dossier, each sheet marked confidential in bold letters, was put together by detectives after one of the worst atrocities of the Troubles and has been gathering dust for 23 years - until now.
The Kingsmill massacre sparked an unprecedented wave of revulsion towards republicans because of the way it was carried out.
Ten Protestants were gunned down in cold blood when the bus on which they were travelling was stopped by an armed gang.
An 11th Protestant, Alan Black, survived, but was maimed for life.
The only Roman Catholic on board escaped with his life after the killers told him to flee.
These papers reveal just how much the police knew about the atrocities at the time. They knew from the outset who the perpetrators were, where they lived, and what they looked like, even down to their individual complexion types. But none of the men named were ever charged.
A staggering quantity of ammunition, which included 70 rounds of Armalite bullets, was used by the gunmen.
The killers' blue van was met on the northern side of the border by a blue car. Police have always known who that car belonged to.
He was an active Provisional, who is thought to have played a major part in IRA attacks since. He is a free man today.
After the hijacking, the gang's van and the blue car travelled in convoy before finally splitting up.
The van was later discovered in Dundalk, but forensic tests failed to link it unequivocally to the massacre.
The weapons used were spirited away via the Tullywinney Road and handed to a receiver, who dumped them in manure pits in a disused barn.
The atrocity was planned down to the very last detail. Up to 15 men altogether were involved in gathering information on who would be travelling on the bus, what religion they were, and making sure the area of the ambush would be free from traffic.
Four men, who are named but cannot be identified for legal reasons, took up position at Priesbush, Graymillan, Whitecross, for up to two hours beforehand.
Their job was to divert vehicles away from where the ambush would take place.
None of the men wore masks, and police knew who they were hours after the event.
But they could never be prosecuted because no one would testify against them.
Investigating officers also believe five or six cars, with their drivers using radios, coordinated the whole operation.
One theory for why the massacre happened put forward at the time was that it was an act of retaliation for two IRA men murdered the day before.
But these papers prove otherwise. In fact plans to ambush the bus were hatched several weeks before and had nothing to do with the deaths the previous night
The final details of the killing were worked out by 14 PIRA members at a house in Carrickaran on December 31,1975 - five days before the atrocity.
One of them is allegedly a leading figure in the Real IRA, the terrorist organisation which carried out the Omagh bombing.
The ambush was largely set up an ex-paratrooper who lived over the border in the Republic at the time.
A policeman penned in the report: "An ex-paratrooper, residing south of the border is friendly with.. (a man who cannot be named for legal reasons).
"These two men set up the Kingsmill ambush (workers' bus), some weeks before the ambush took place on 5/1/76."
There are also personal profiles of each man who hijacked the bus and pulled the triggers, including their ages, addresses, height, weight, eye and hair colour.
Police raided their homes and a number of other addresses, but never succeeded in compiling a water-tight case against them.
The main obstacle, it seems, was locals' fear of the various personalities which made up the killing team.
Further Information
Publisher: NEWS LETTER
Ref: NL/544
Published Date: 22-Jan-99
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