Kingsmill massacre: Judge and survivor call for information

Northern Ireland judge Brian Sherrard has urged anyone with information about the Kingsmill Massacre four decades ago to bring it forward to the Belfast coroners' office.

Next month Judge Sherrard is to preside at combined inquests into the deaths of 10men shot dead by the IRA near Kingsmill in south Armagh on January 5th, 1976.

In 2011 the Historical Enquiries Team found that the Provisional IRA carried out the “purely sectarian” and “calculated slaughter” of 10 Protestants near the village of Kingsmill.

The textile workers were gunned down after a bus bringing them home from work was waved down by a man flashing a light near Kingsmill. They were lined up by at least 11 gunmen with the one Catholic among them told to run away.

One man, Alan Black survived even though he was struck 18 times. On Tuesday he issued a plea for anyone with information to assist the inquests.

In 2013 based on fresh evidence supplied by the enquiries team the North’s Attorney General John Larkin, QC, ordered that new inquests be held into the killings.

Judicial plea

These are scheduled to begin on May 23rd but Judge Sherrard asked anyone with relevant information to contact the coroners’ service.

“There may, for example, be persons with relevant information concerning the deaths but who have not yet brought that information to the attention of the authorities,” noted a statement on his behalf.

“There may be persons who were arrested in connection with the deaths and who wish formally to renounce any connection with the matter,” it added.

“Or there may be persons who have been mentioned in connection with these deaths or who have regarded themselves as under suspicion in relation to the deaths, who wish formally to renounce any suggestion of their involvement or who have information that may assist the coronial inquiry.”

The coroners’ office said anyone with information could write to Coroners Service for Northern Ireland, 5th Floor, Laganside House, 23-27 Oxford Street, Belfast BT1 3LA, or email legacy@courtsni.gsi.gov.uk.

Separately, sole survivor of the attack Alan Black said the inquests were the last chance to achieve “closure”. He hoped Judge Sherrard would be assisted in his request.

“It has gone past the point of calling for anyone to be punished. This is about getting to the truth. It has been like a raw wound for 40 years and this is about bringing some form of comfort to the families,” said 72-year-old Mr Black.

“The gunmen were probably around the same age as myself, so we are now looking at our own mortality. You would want to ease your own conscience before passing on,” he added.