'˜Kenny broke his Kingsmills promises'

Enda Kenny leaves the office of Taoiseach having key broken promises on disclosure to the Kingsmills Massacre families, they have said.
By The Newsroom
Published 14th Jun 2017, 09:22 BST
Updated 15th Jun 2017, 14:38 BST
Taoisach Enda Kenny pictured with Kingsmill survivor Alan Black during a meeting with family members at Bessbrook in March 2015. Pic: Aidan O'Reilly/Pacemaker PressTaoisach Enda Kenny pictured with Kingsmill survivor Alan Black during a meeting with family members at Bessbrook in March 2015. Pic: Aidan O'Reilly/Pacemaker Press
Taoisach Enda Kenny pictured with Kingsmill survivor Alan Black during a meeting with family members at Bessbrook in March 2015. Pic: Aidan O'Reilly/Pacemaker Press

Ten Protestant workmen were killed by the IRA as they returned home at Kingsmills in south Armagh in 1976.

In March 2015 Mr Kenny met their families in Bessbrook and promised full disclosure from Irish security files on the attack.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Many aspects of the atrocity centre on the Republic of Ireland; the gunmen used it as their base, four weapons were recovered there, the getaway minibus was hijacked and dumped there and the top three suspects served time there for terrorism.

The ten Protestant workmen were taken out of their van at Kingsmills and linked up against it before being gunned down. The bullet holes can be seen right across the van.The ten Protestant workmen were taken out of their van at Kingsmills and linked up against it before being gunned down. The bullet holes can be seen right across the van.
The ten Protestant workmen were taken out of their van at Kingsmills and linked up against it before being gunned down. The bullet holes can be seen right across the van.

Alan Black. who was shot 18 times but survived, was disappointed with Mr Kenny.

“Sure he wasn’t much good to us at all,” he said. “I think they were that much up to their eyes in it that they cannot release more.

“I met him twice and he was on the phone once too. He made the same promise to me three times. But all they have given us is newspaper clippings and very little else.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Colin Worton, whose brother Kenneth was killed, said: “We will not be sad to see him go. He never followed up on what he promised us. He promised us full disclosure but that never happened. He was not as honourable as he let on to be.”

The Taoiseach declined to offer any comment.

Related topics:ProtestantArmaghIRA