On the 1st September 1975 the members of Tullyvallen LOL 630 were meeting, as they regularly did on the first Friday of each month, in their Orange Hall in rural South Armagh near the border with the Irish Republic.
The meeting was held just three weeks after the kidnap, torture and murder of fellow Lodge member William Meaklin, a former RUC Reservist.
As always the Lodge had opened their meeting with prayer and had just moved on to a general discussion when gunmen burst into the hall through the kitchen at the back.
They stood just inside the doorway and opened fire on the men sitting in the hall while another gunman fired through a window from outside the hall. Caught in the crossfire three members were killed immediately whilst several others were wounded. One was to die shortly after at the scene and another died two days later in hospital.
Fortunately an off-duty member of the security forces attending his Lodge was able to use his personal protection weapon to fire back wounding one of the assailants. The attackers made off in face of this resistance. There can be no doubt that but for the actions of this man every member of the Lodge would have been murdered that evening.
In a further attempt to take life a 2lb bomb was left outside the Orange Hall, which was later defused by the Army. This callous act also delayed the ambulance service attending to the victims as well as endangering the life of members of the security and medical services.
It is estimated that eight terrorists participated in this orgy of death and destruction but only one (the driver of a get away car) was ever convicted. However it is believed that Real IRA boss Michael McKevitt (then a member of SF/PIRA) and an other, who is now a top ranking SF/PIRA official close to Gerry Adams, were gunmen in this atrocity.
In November 1977 John McCooey, 22, from Cullyhanna was convicted in connection with the Tullyvallen killings.The same man was convicted in connection with the murders of UDR members Joseph McCollough (LOL 630) and Robert William McConnell (LOL 305) which took place in February 1976, shortly after Tullyvallen. He received seven life sentences and was also jailed for being a member of the IRA and having guns and explosives. He has however since been released to carry out more heinous acts under the so-called Good Friday Agreement.
In remembering those who died we must also remember and care for the victims who continue to feel the pain and despair.
The story of Tullyvallen has to be told as an example of the atrocities inflicted upon the decent law abiding people of Northern Ireland. The voice of the victims must be heard.
Tullyvallen Victims
James McKee 70. A farmer with five children
Ronald McKee 40. A farmer.
John Johnston 80. A retired farmer.
Nevin McConnell 40. A livestock market manager.
William Herron 63. Died two days later from his injuries.
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.
The meeting was held just three weeks after the kidnap, torture and murder of fellow Lodge member William Meaklin, a former RUC Reservist.
As always the Lodge had opened their meeting with prayer and had just moved on to a general discussion when gunmen burst into the hall through the kitchen at the back.
They stood just inside the doorway and opened fire on the men sitting in the hall while another gunman fired through a window from outside the hall. Caught in the crossfire three members were killed immediately whilst several others were wounded. One was to die shortly after at the scene and another died two days later in hospital.
Fortunately an off-duty member of the security forces attending his Lodge was able to use his personal protection weapon to fire back wounding one of the assailants. The attackers made off in face of this resistance. There can be no doubt that but for the actions of this man every member of the Lodge would have been murdered that evening.
In a further attempt to take life a 2lb bomb was left outside the Orange Hall, which was later defused by the Army. This callous act also delayed the ambulance service attending to the victims as well as endangering the life of members of the security and medical services.
It is estimated that eight terrorists participated in this orgy of death and destruction but only one (the driver of a get away car) was ever convicted. However it is believed that Real IRA boss Michael McKevitt (then a member of SF/PIRA) and an other, who is now a top ranking SF/PIRA official close to Gerry Adams, were gunmen in this atrocity.
In November 1977 John McCooey, 22, from Cullyhanna was convicted in connection with the Tullyvallen killings.The same man was convicted in connection with the murders of UDR members Joseph McCollough (LOL 630) and Robert William McConnell (LOL 305) which took place in February 1976, shortly after Tullyvallen. He received seven life sentences and was also jailed for being a member of the IRA and having guns and explosives. He has however since been released to carry out more heinous acts under the so-called Good Friday Agreement.
In remembering those who died we must also remember and care for the victims who continue to feel the pain and despair.
The story of Tullyvallen has to be told as an example of the atrocities inflicted upon the decent law abiding people of Northern Ireland. The voice of the victims must be heard.
Tullyvallen Victims
James McKee 70. A farmer with five children
Ronald McKee 40. A farmer.
John Johnston 80. A retired farmer.
Nevin McConnell 40. A livestock market manager.
William Herron 63. Died two days later from his injuries.
WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.