Northern Ireland legacy: New witness comes forward to IRA Kingsmills Massacre inquest after ten year process had closed

A new witness has come forward with information to the Kingsmills Massacre inquest, which could potentially see the investigation reopened.
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By Philip Bradfield
Published 5th Jul 2023, 17:39 BST
Updated 6th Jul 2023, 10:08 BST

The IRA killed 10 Protestant factory workers near Kingsmills in south Armagh in 1976 after they stopped their minibus on the way home and gunned them down by the side of the road.

The inquest - which has been active for almost ten years - held its supposed last evidence gathering session in Dungannon in March.

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However it has now been revealed that a mystery witness has contacted the coroner with potentially relevant evidence.

The Kingsmills Massacre inquest and Historical Enquiries Team published similar information about a leading suspect which matched leading republican Colm Murphy.The Kingsmills Massacre inquest and Historical Enquiries Team published similar information about a leading suspect which matched leading republican Colm Murphy.
The Kingsmills Massacre inquest and Historical Enquiries Team published similar information about a leading suspect which matched leading republican Colm Murphy.

A spokeswoman for the Coroner told the News Letter: "The position regarding the Kingsmill inquests is that evidence has been completed, final written submissions have been filed and final oral submissions were heard by the Coroner on the 30 March 2023. The next step is for the Coroner to deliver his findings.However recently a new witness contacted CSNI purporting to have potentially relevant evidence – this is being considered and addressed in advance of the Coroner finalising and delivering his findings."

Asked if formal hearings could reopen, she replied: "That will be for the Coroner to decide however it is too early to determine at this stage."

Karen Armstrong, whose brother John McConville was one of those murdered, noted there had been no end of surprising twists in the process.

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"Obviously it was quite unexpected when we heard that someone had come forward," she said. "We haven't seen any statements yet but obviously the Coroner has found the information useful as he has sent his investigators out to take a statement.

Kingsmills Massacre survivor Alan Black and Karen Armstrong, whose brother John McConville was murdered in the attack. Both of them have spoken to the News Letter about the new witness.Kingsmills Massacre survivor Alan Black and Karen Armstrong, whose brother John McConville was murdered in the attack. Both of them have spoken to the News Letter about the new witness.
Kingsmills Massacre survivor Alan Black and Karen Armstrong, whose brother John McConville was murdered in the attack. Both of them have spoken to the News Letter about the new witness.

"Right through this whole inquest this is the way things have gone. We are just surprised that this person has come forward not long after Colum Murphy passed away."

The inquest and the Historical Enquiries Team previously published similar information about a key Kingsmills suspect that clearly identified Mr Murphy.

Alan Black, the sole survivor of the attack, said: "They came forward about six weeks ago, but we don't know whether they are a time waster or not. We have not been able to find out who it is."

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He named a specific IRA man who claimed to have been at the scene of the attack, and wondered whether he might have decided to come forward.

SEE ALSO:

Northern Ireland legacy: Dublin law forbids sole survivor of Kingsmills Massacre from disclosing secret Garda evidence on IRA atrocity