Loughall attack: New inquests into deaths of civilian and IRA men

Eight IRA men were shot dead by undercover soldiers in the incident in Loughgall

New inquests are to be held into the deaths of eight IRA men and a civilian shot dead by the SAS in County Armagh in 1987.

Soldiers opened fire on the IRA men who were preparing to bomb a police station in Loughgall in 1987.

The incident is viewed as one of the most controversial of The Troubles.

The law firm representing those who died said it was a "welcome development" to address the "unanswered questions" that remained.

Advocate General for Northern Ireland Jeremy Wright QC had been asked by the government to decide whether new inquests should happen.

"Following careful consideration of a huge amount of material I have come to the decision that new inquests into the Loughgall deaths are justified," Mr Wright QC said.

"The new inquests will establish who has died, and how, when and where the death occurred. The Coroners Service for Northern Ireland will now take this forward."

Solicitor Darragh Mackin said: "We now request that the Coroner's Office for Northern is granted appropriate funding to undertake these inquests - and all other conflict-related legacy inquests as soon as possible and a timetable for these inquests to be set.

"We remain concerned that this decision was taken by an English law officer who is an elected politician and not the Attorney General for Northern Ireland.

An aerial view of the aftermath of the IRA ambush at Loughgall RUC station in 1987

"Clarity on this matter remains so that it can be avoided in the future and such important decisions are taken in Belfast and not London."

Advocate General for Northern Ireland Jeremy Wright QC had been asked by the government to decide whether new inquests should happen.

"Following careful consideration of a huge amount of material I have come to the decision that new inquests into the Loughgall deaths are justified," Mr Wright QC said.

"The new inquests will establish who has died, and how, when and where the death occurred. The Coroners Service for Northern Ireland will now take this forward."