1990 Lough Neagh ambush facts for kids

Quick facts for kids 1990 Lough Neagh ambush
Part of The Troubles and Operation Banner
Scene of the shooting, 11 November 1990
Location	Castor Bay near Morrows Point, Lough Neagh, County Armagh, Northern Ireland
Coordinates	54°30′19.3″N 6°20′28.64″W / 54.505361°N 6.3412889°W / 54.505361; -6.3412889
Date	10 November 1990 7:30-8:00AM (GMT)
Target	Off-duty RUC officers
Attack type	Shooting
Deaths	2 Royal Ulster Constabulary officers 1 former UDR soldier 1 civilian
Non-fatal injuries	0
Perpetrator	Provisional IRA

The 1990 Lough Neagh ambush was a serious shooting that happened on November 10, 1990. It took place at Castor Bay, near Lough Neagh in County Armagh, Northern Ireland. Members of the Provisional IRA attacked a group of men who were on a hunting trip. Four people were killed in the attack. These included two police officers, a former soldier, and a civilian. Some of the victims fought back before they were killed.

What Happened Before the Attack?

This attack was part of a difficult time in Northern Ireland known as The Troubles. This period saw a lot of conflict and violence.

Earlier Events Near Lough Neagh

Just before this ambush, there were other violent events in the same area.

• On September 7, 1990, a soldier named Colin McCullough was killed by the IRA. This happened at Oxford Island, also on the shore of Lough Neagh.
• On October 6, a group called the "Protestant Action Force" (a secret name for the Ulster Volunteer Force) killed a Catholic man named Denis Carville. This was seen as a response to the earlier killing. It also happened at Oxford Island.

The Shooting at Castor Bay

The attack happened early in the morning on November 10, 1990.

The Hunting Trip

Four men left their homes around 7:30 AM to go hunting. They went to Castor Bay, a place they often visited for wildfowling (hunting wild birds). The men lived in nearby towns like Lurgan and Waringstown.

The Victims

The four men who were killed were:

• David Murphy, a police inspector.
• Thomas Taylor, a part-time police officer.
• Norman Kendall, an electrician and former soldier.
• Keith Dowey, who worked for the water service and had two young children.

How the Attack Unfolded

It is believed that the IRA group was already waiting inside the waterworks compound. They attacked the men shortly after they arrived.

• Keith Dowey, who was driving, was shot and died right away.
• Norman Kendall tried to fight back before he was killed.
• Thomas Taylor used his own weapon and fired at the attackers, but he was also shot.
• David Murphy struggled and tried to escape, but he was eventually killed.

The attackers escaped in one of the victims' cars. This car was later found burned in Lurgan. The IRA group then hid near the lake before returning to Lurgan the next morning.

What Happened After the Attack?

The attack was strongly criticized by leaders in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Political Reactions

• Politicians who supported staying with the United Kingdom asked for stronger security.
• Local politician David Trimble criticized the government for not taking tougher actions. He also connected the attack to a recent speech that suggested Britain had no "selfish interest" in Northern Ireland.
• The head of the police, Hugh Annesley, called the attack "repulsive, futile and cowardly murder." He said that the attackers did not have support from anyone.

Calls for Peace

• A representative from the Social Democratic and Labour Party, Bríd Rodgers, said these killings were part of a cycle of violence. She asked anyone with information to contact the police.
• Church leaders in Lurgan warned Catholic people to be careful. They were worried about possible revenge attacks from groups who supported staying with the United Kingdom.

The person believed to be the leader of the IRA group, Patsy Haughian, died in 2000. He was never officially charged with the killings.

See also

• Chronology of Provisional Irish Republican Army actions (1990–99)
• 1989 Jonesborough ambush
• 1993 Fivemiletown ambush