The Troubles in Darkley

1979

• 24 February 1979 - Martin McGuigan and James Keenan, both Catholic civilians, were killed by a Provisional Irish Republican Army remote-controlled bomb hidden in a trailer and detonated when they walked past. It was parked on the roadside between Darkley and Keady, on the Newtownhamilton road. They were mistaken for a British Army foot patrol. Three of their friends were also seriously injured in the bombing which left a five-foot crater in the road. The Garda Síochána questioned four men in the following days.

  1983

• 20 November 1983 - David Wilson, Harold Brown and Victor Cunningham, Protestant civilians and church elders, were shot dead in the entrance hall of Mountain Lodge Pentecostal Church near Darkley, County Armagh. Between 60 and 70 people were inside at the time, including about 20 children. The attack was carried out by two masked gunmen. After shooting the men at the entrance, they sprayed the building with gunfire, wounding seven people. One of the guns used had been used before in incidents for which the Irish National Liberation Army claimed responsibility. Dominic McGlinchey, INLA chief at the time, said that he had supplied one of the guns used but did not order the attack or approve of it. The attack was claimed by the "Catholic Reaction Force". No-one was ever charged with the killings.