1991 Craigavon killings

For the March 1991 attack, see1991 Drumbeg killings.

1991 Craigavon killings
Part ofthe Troubles
The location of the killings in 2009
1991 Craigavon killings (Northern Ireland)
Location	Craigavon,County Armagh,Northern Ireland
Date	14 November 1991
Attack type	shooting
Weapons	AK-47
Deaths	3 civilians
Perpetrator	Ulster Volunteer Force

On 14 November 1991 theUlster Volunteer Force(UVF), aloyalistparamilitary group, shot dead three civilians inCraigavon,County Armagh,Northern Ireland.The three men were driving home from work at the Hyster forklift factory.

Background

TheUVF Mid-Ulster Brigade,based in the Craigavon area, stepped up its attacks in the early 1990s. At this time it was led byBilly WrightfromPortadown.In March 1991, the UVF shot dead three Catholic civilians (two teenage girls and a man) at a mobile shop in Craigavon (see1991 Drumbeg killings).

On 13 November 1991, theProvisional IRAkilled four Protestants inBelfast.At a house on Lecale Street, the IRA shot dead a member of theUlster Defence Association(UDA) and his stepson, a member of theRed Hand Commando.On Crumlin Road, the IRA shot dead two Protestant civilians who were renovating a house. The previous owner, a loyalist militant, was the intended target.It is possible the Craigavon killings were retaliation.

Shooting

The UVF set up anillegal checkpointon the Carbet Road–Carn Road junction, near the Hyster factory. It was intended to look like a regular British Army checkpoint, and the UVF members flashed a red torch to signal to people to pull over.Fergus Magee (28) was getting a lift home with Desmond Rogers (54) when they were stopped at the checkpoint. A masked man wearing army fatigues and carrying anAK-47assault rifle walked along the row of stopped cars until he reached Desmond Rogers' car.He fired into the car, killing Rogers outright and fatally wounding Magee. Both men were Catholic civilians. John Lavery (27), who was in the car behind, tried to reverse out of the way, but the UVF gunman ran over to him and fired into his car, fatally wounding him.Lavery was a Protestant civilian. The UVF later issued an apology for killing John Lavery because he was a Protestant.

UVF member Vicky Ahitty from Portadown was sentenced to life in October 1992 for the killingsalong with the murders of Kevin and John McKearney at their shop inMoyin January 1992. Kevin McKearney was the brother of three former IRA members.

The UVF had previously set up fake British Army checkpoints in carrying out theMiami Showband killingsin July 1975,and the killing of two Catholic civilians nearNewtownhamiltonin August 1975.

See also

• 1991 Cappagh killings
• 1991 Drumbeg killings
• Loughinisland massacre