IRA claims Lurgan attack
THE FIRST MEMBERS OF THE RUC to be killed by Oglaigh na hEireann
since the IRA resumed military operations on 9 February last year
had been under surveillance for a number of weeks, according to
an IRA statement. The two were killed in a well planned operation
in the small market town of Lurgan in County Armagh on Monday 16
June.
The RUC members had just left their heavily fortified barracks to
go on patrol around Church Walk at about 11.45am when two
Volunteers approached them from behind and opened fire hitting
both in the head; the two RUC men, John Graham and David
Johnston, died almost immediately.
The attack happened just yards from the main RUC barracks which
has surveillance equipment trained on the area. Despite this and
a massive follow up operation the Volunteers made their escape.
In a statement the IRA's North Armagh Brigade claimed
responsibility for the operation.
The full text of the IRA statement said, ``Volunteers of the North
Armagh Brigade Oglaigh na hEireann carried out an operation on
Monday 16 June in which two RUC members were shot dead. Two
handguns were used in the operation which was conducted within
yards of the main gate of Lurgan RUC barracks. This patrol had
been under surveillance for a number of weeks prior to last
Monday morning's attack.''
The two dead RUC members were the 300th and 301st members of the
force to die in this present phase of struggle.
Meanwhile newly elected Sinn Fein councillor from Lurgan John
O'Dowd has said that since the shooting of the RUC men Kilwilkie
estate has been sealed off as the crown forces carry out house
searches.
O'Dowd said that the RUC in particular have been very aggressive
and threatening ``to kill somebody before we leave''. During one
raid the RUC held a pregnant woman in her home with dogs and when
her sisters arrived and pushed through their cordon the RUC
threatened, over a loud hailer, to open fire.
The Sinn Fein councillor also said that during rioting in the
area on Monday evening dozens of plastics bullets were fired.
O'Dowd reported that ``the RIR have now been brought in here so it
seems to me that things can only get worse. Already they are
abusing people. Sinn Féin is appealing to the young people to
stay calm especially as the crown forces are looking for an
excuse to inflict serious injury on someone''.
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