Kingsmills: Inquest ‘has justified the lack of confidence that many families have had in the process for some time’, says MLA

Coroner Brian Sherrard said the shooting dead of 10 Protestant workmen at Kingsmills in 1976 was an “overtly sectarian attack by the IRA”.

They were ambushed by a gang of at least 12 men posing as British soldiers as they made their way home from working at a textiles factory.

Robert Chambers, 18; John Bryans, 46; Reginald Chapman, 29; Walter Chapman, 35; Robert Freeburn, 50; Joseph Lemmon, 46; John McConville, 20; James McWhirter, 58; Robert Walker, 46; and Kenneth Worton, 24 all died in the attack. Alan Black, the only survivor, lived despite being shot multiple times.

UUP Slieve Gullion representative, Cllr David Taylor said: “I am extremely disappointed for Alan Black and the Kingsmills families regarding the lack of justice that has been served following the verdict delivered by the Coroner of the Kingsmill massacre Inquest.

“They have fought for so many years to achieve justice for their friends and loved ones who were so cruelly murdered by IRA terrorists as they returned home from a days work on 5th January 1976.

“The failure to provide any progress for the Kingsmills families through the Inquest is contemptible and everyone who has been involved in the campaign for justice is understandably angry at the verdict delivered.

“There is a clear need for a comprehensive and independent public inquiry at this point. I believe this is absolutely necessary in order to try and achieve the delivery of justice that the Kingsmills families deserve.”

Newry & Armagh MLA William Irwin has said the Kingsmills inquest has justified the lack of confidence that many families have had in the process for some time.

Speaking after attending the court proceedings the DUP MLA said, “The Kingsmills massacre has stood as overtly sectarian since 1976. It did not require an inquest to discover this, but it has at least been formally recognised that innocent workmen were selected for murder because of their religion. The question can rightly be posed as to how anyone can state that there was “no alternative” to the IRA’s sectarian slaughter of innocent people at Kingsmills.

“Those who still bear the pain of what happened in 1976 have not seen anyone brought to justice, and now have faced obfuscation and evasion from authorities in the Republic of Ireland and others elsewhere. Some who talk most loudly about the need for truth appear only to mean this when it relates to the actions of the security forces.

“Many of the victims lost faith in this process some time ago and it will be of no comfort to them that their stance has been justified. Even when granted an inquest it has not seen the kind of pressure for openness and truth which seems to be thrown behind other processes.

“The families have been through decades of pain and grief because of the actions of republicans. Many of them are people of faith however who rely on the knowledge that even those who evade justice in this life, will not escape it forever.”

DUP justice spokesperson Joanne Bunting was also present in court today. She added “We will continue to stand with innocent victims. Many of those most affected by the Kingsmills massacre have passed away whilst others are now left feeling that they will never see the truth uncovered. There is also a fear that there are attempts to run down the clock in relation to other processes in anticipation of the implementation of the legacy act.

“I have requested an update from the Police Ombudsman about the status of that report and sought assurances that it will be published without any delay and that it will not be impacted by the May 1 deadline.”