Half a century since republicans killed first RUC men of Troubles: Ex-top officer says thanks are owed to all those who wore the uniform

Today marks exactly 50 years since RUC constables Samuel Donaldson and Robert ‘Roy’ Millar died, following a car bombing in south Armagh.

They were aged 23 and 26, respectively.

They were not the first police officers to die in the Troubles; 10 months earlier loyalists had shot dead 29-year-old officer Victor Arbuckle on the Shankill Road.

But officers Donaldson and Millar were the first to be killed since the Provisional IRA launched its campaign.

From that date onwards, an average of 11 RUC officers – either serving or retired – were killed each year up until 1998.

According to Ulster University’s Conflict Archive on the Internet (CAIN), by the end of 1998 the total number of fatalities had reached 319 (with 306 of those murders being at the hands of republicans).

Stephen White, ex-ACC and chairman of the RUC George Cross Foundation, told the News Letter: “I was proud to wear the uniform of the RUC and serve alongside some of the most courageous and professional police officers in the world.

“So today, as we remember the 50th anniversary of the first RUC fatalities of Republican terrorism during the Troubles, I feel it is critically important to ensure they are never forgotten.”

The foundation estimates that, in addition to the hundreds of RUC fatalities, “over 10,000 officers were injured, some 300 being severely disabled”.

That is a very substantial attrition rate for a force which – according to CAIN – numbered a maximum of 8,505 officers by 1997/98 (plus another 4,300 reservists).

The book ‘Lost Lives’ states that officers Millar and Donaldson were killed by a bomb hidden in a stolen red Ford Cortina on Lissaraw Road, just south of Crossmaglen – also making them “the first of many casualties to die in the south Armagh area”.

The book says the policemen had been trying to tow the car some time after 8.30pm on August 11.

It had reportedly been sitting there for days.

Earlier that evening a local labourer had peered into the abandoned vehicle while travelling past with his son, whilst a curious passing farmer had gone as far as to try and open all four of the car doors.

Luckily for them, the device did not detonate.

But later on that night, the 9kg (20lb) gelignite charge exploded whilst the policemen were next to the car, throwing them into a field. They died in Daisy Hill the next day.

Mr White went on to add: “While condemning the act and reiterating sincere sympathy to the officers’ families one can only be thankful that their colleagues were not deterred but instead continued to do their duty year after year in the most difficult and dangerous circumstances.”

READ: Mum speaks out over LVF murder of her only son 20 years after campaign declared over

READ: LVF called end to campaign 20 years ago – here is how it was born

READ: McGuinness anniversary: ‘The IRA killed Clive but we kept things to ourselves. Who would listen?’

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