1994 Shankill Road killings facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 1994 Shankill Road killings |
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Part of the Troubles | |||||||
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| Belligerents | |||||||
 Irish National Liberation Army |
 UVF |
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| Commanders and leaders | |||||||
| Gino Gallagher Hugh Torney |
Trevor King † |
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| Strength | |||||||
| 4 volunteers | 3 UVF members | ||||||
| Casualties and losses | |||||||
| None | 3 UVF killed 1 civilian wounded |
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The 1994 Shankill Road killings happened on June 16, 1994, during a time known as the Troubles in Northern Ireland. On this day, a group called the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA) attacked three members of the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) on the Shankill Road in Belfast.
The three UVF members who died were Trevor King, Colin Craig, and David Hamilton. Trevor King was an important leader within the UVF. This event was a big moment in the ongoing conflict.
What Led to the Attack?
Before this attack, the UVF was thinking about stopping their fighting. They hoped to do this from a strong position.
The Irish National Liberation Army had been less active for a while. But around 1992, they started to become more active again. They carried out some attacks in different places. For example, in 1992, they killed a British Army recruiting sergeant in England. They also caused damage with firebombs. In 1993, they seriously injured a UVF leader and killed a retired police officer.
The Attack on Shankill Road
On June 16, 1994, Trevor King was standing on Shankill Road. He was talking to two other UVF members, David Hamilton and Colin Craig. A car drove by, and people inside it started shooting at the three men.
The car used in the shooting was later found burning. Colin Craig died right away. Trevor King and David Hamilton were badly hurt. There was a lot of panic on Shankill Road after the shooting.
A minister named Reverend Roy Magee was nearby. He was meeting with UVF leaders to talk about a possible ceasefire. He ran out after hearing the shots. He later said the scene was very chaotic. He saw one man already dead and the others seriously injured.
Trevor King was taken to the hospital. He was very badly hurt and died on July 9.
This attack was a big blow to efforts for peace in Northern Ireland. It also gave the INLA a boost in their activities. It was their deadliest attack since 1982.
What Happened Next?
The day after the Shankill Road killings, the UVF carried out two revenge attacks. First, they killed a Catholic taxi driver in Carrickfergus. Then, they killed two Protestant people in Newtownabbey. The UVF thought these two people were Catholic.
Two days later, the UVF carried out another revenge attack. They killed six Catholic people in a bar. These people were watching a soccer game. This event is known as the Loughinisland massacre.
These back-and-forth attacks continued for several months in 1994. They finally slowed down when the Provisional IRA announced a ceasefire in August 1994. After that, other loyalist groups also announced a ceasefire in October. The Shankill Road attack was the INLA's deadliest attack in the 1990s.
Some people, like political leader David Ervine, thought the INLA might have worked with the Provisional IRA. They believed these groups might have worked together to target important loyalist figures.
See also
- Timeline of Irish National Liberation Army actions
