Darkley killings

Darkley killings
Part of the Troubles
The church where the killings took place
Darkley killings is located in Northern Ireland
Darkley killings
LocationDarkley, County Armagh, Northern Ireland
Coordinates54°13′05″N 6°40′20″W / 54.2181°N 6.6723°W / 54.2181; -6.6723
Date20 November 1983
19:00 (GMT)
Attack type
Mass shooting
Deaths3
Injured7
PerpetratorsMembers of the INLA using the covername "Catholic Reaction Force"

The Darkley killings or Darkley massacre was a gun attack carried out on 20 November 1983 near the village of Darkley in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. Three gunmen attacked worshippers attending a church service at Mountain Lodge Pentecostal Church, killing three Protestant civilians and wounding seven. The attackers were members of the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) acting on their own. They claimed responsibility using the cover name "Catholic Reaction Force", saying it was retaliation for recent sectarian attacks on Catholics by the loyalist "Protestant Action Force".[1] The attack was condemned by the INLA leadership.

  1. ^ David McKittrick; Seamus Kelters; Brian Feeney; Chris Thornton; David McVea (2001). Lost Lives: The Stories of the Men, Women and Children who Died as a Result of the Northern Ireland Troubles. pp. 963–964. ISBN 978-1840185041.