Debate contribution: Clonoe Inquest Findings

Debate contribution by Mr Keith Buchanan on 10 February 2025.

MLA

Mr Keith Buchanan

Party at the time

Democratic Unionist Party

Date

10 February 2025

Type

Debate contribution

Business

Matter of the Day

Heading

Clonoe Inquest Findings

Assembly identifier

Official Report component 4790195

Read the official Assembly record

Text

On 16 February 1992, an armed IRA terrorist gang set out with the intention of murder when they attacked the RUC station in Coalisland. There is no doubt that they intended to murder. At 10.30 pm, a stolen car and lorry were driven into the centre of Coalisland and, from them, 30 rounds of armour-piercing, tracer ammunition were fired, at close range, into the station. A machine gun was mounted on the back of the stolen lorry. Make no mistake, the intention of the attack was to murder and maim police officers and soldiers. That murderous attack posed an immediate and ongoing threat, not just to security forces but to civilians. After the attack, when the IRA gang was returning to a rendezvous point, it was intercepted by the SAS. The SAS were faced with a heavily armed terrorist gang of approximately 10 and had to act decisively to neutralise the threat. Four IRA men were killed during the operation by the security forces, the others made their escape. There is no place in any civilised society for terror. Not now. Not then. Not ever. There is always an alternative to terrorism and violence — always. Those four terrorists had an alternative that night, but they went out with the intent of taking lives and destroying property. Make no mistake: that was their intention. They could have been at home with their family or loved ones, like most other people. They could have been out socialising or working, but they made a choice. They made the choice to try to commit murder. The British Army had no alternative that night. How many warnings were issued by the East Tyrone brigade of the Provisional IRA to police, army and UDR personnel over the years of its campaign? My milkman and postman were both assassinated. They got no warning. They got no choice. They were doing a day's work and were assassinated like dogs on the side of the road. The guys who went out that night had a choice. If you engage in a so-called war, be prepared for bullets coming back at you. That is what war is about. Wars are wrong, but bullets will come back. That night, the terrorists chose their alternative, and, on that occasion, it was the wrong choice. It is easy for some to look at events and come to the conclusion that an easier way could have been found. These people were not out collecting for the Red Cross. They were out to commit murder — murder. It was not an accident. It was not an argument outside an establishment. It was a committed and planned murder. Does the judiciary understand the impact of the ruling on the innocent victims across Northern Ireland? Those who were going about their daily lives — for example, my postman and my milkman — but were assassinated, and they did not deserve it.

485 words. Text as published by the Northern Ireland Assembly.

Assessment

Not qualifying

Jev’s structured answers

Assessed 21 October 2026 at 11:55 UTC by jev-1.13.0 (requested as typesafe/jev) under rubric 2026.10-r9, methodology 1.9.

Disagree with this assessment?

Classifications can be challenged. A person reviews every challenge, and any change is recorded publicly above with its reason.

Challenge this classification