Doug Beattie: I regret any death but when SAS stopped IRA at Loughgall it saved innocent lives

I have always taken the view that everybody has the right to remember their dead, but that must be done with sensitivity and people should not seek to re-write history in the process.
By The Newsroom
Published 26th Apr 2017, 23:52 BST
Updated 9th May 2017, 18:51 BST
The eight IRA men shot dead at Loughgall in 1987. They were ruthless terrorists says Doug Beattie, and innocent lives were saved when the SAS stopped them. From top left: Patrick McKearney, Tony Gormley, Jim Lynagh, Paddy Kelly. From bottom left: Declan Arthurs, Gerard O'Callaghan, Seamus Donnelly and Eugene Kelly. Image Pacemaker.The eight IRA men shot dead at Loughgall in 1987. They were ruthless terrorists says Doug Beattie, and innocent lives were saved when the SAS stopped them. From top left: Patrick McKearney, Tony Gormley, Jim Lynagh, Paddy Kelly. From bottom left: Declan Arthurs, Gerard O'Callaghan, Seamus Donnelly and Eugene Kelly. Image Pacemaker.
The eight IRA men shot dead at Loughgall in 1987. They were ruthless terrorists says Doug Beattie, and innocent lives were saved when the SAS stopped them. From top left: Patrick McKearney, Tony Gormley, Jim Lynagh, Paddy Kelly. From bottom left: Declan Arthurs, Gerard O'Callaghan, Seamus Donnelly and Eugene Kelly. Image Pacemaker.

In attending this particular commemoration to the IRA Loughgall dead, Michelle O’Neill is re-affirming Sinn Fein’s deep rooted link to this group, described as ‘streetwise homicidal maniacs’ in Dr William Matchett’s recent book ‘Secret Victory, The Intelligence War that beat the IRA.’

The truth is that the IRA men who chose to turn up at Loughgall on May 8 1987 were heavily armed, all wearing body armour and were extremely dangerous.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

They were not ‘martyrs’, they were criminals. They were there to commit murder, and murder is a crime.

Captain Doug Beattie, at a recent rally in support of veterans in Belfast city centreCaptain Doug Beattie, at a recent rally in support of veterans in Belfast city centre
Captain Doug Beattie, at a recent rally in support of veterans in Belfast city centre

Martyrs is a term commonly used by groups such as ISIS, the Taliban, Al-Qaeda, Hamas, and Al-Shabab. In using the term to advertise an IRA commemoration, Sinn Fein are placing the IRA dead at Loughgall in very interesting company indeed.

This particular gang had been involved in previous attacks on police stations. Two police officers were murdered in an attack on the RUC station in Ballygawley on December 7 1985 and the RUC station at The Birches was attacked on August 11 1986.

The attack on Loughgall was to follow the same plan. Indeed, one of the weapons recovered from the terrorists killed at Loughgall, had been taken from an RUC officer murdered in the Ballygawley attack.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

There is no question that the terrorists would have shown no mercy to anyone who crossed their path.

They were ruthless killers who had been involved in criminal activity for many years and had proven themselves all too keen to butcher men, women and children without hesitation. Their luck ran out at Loughgall when they encountered highly trained professional soldiers from the SAS operating within the law and within the rules of engagement.

The SAS operation at Loughgall was highly effective. Whilst I regret the death of anyone, the fact is that eight ruthless and dedicated terrorists were neutralised and could play no further part in what republicans term ‘the conflict’.

Many more innocent lives were saved as a result.

For that we should all be thankful.

Doug Beattie MC, MLA Upper Bann

Related topics:LoughgallIRADoug BeattieSinn FeinMichelle O'Neill