Findings of review into UVF Glenanne gang expected to be made public

Findings of review into UVF Glenanne gang expected to be made public

During the 1970s, a paramilitary group operated primarily out of a farm located in Glenanne, a village in County Armagh. This farm was owned by James Mitchell, a now-deceased officer of the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC). It has been alleged that this gang included not only members of paramilitary organizations but also individuals serving as police officers and soldiers in the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR).

This group is believed to have been responsible for approximately 90 violent attacks throughout that decade. Among their most notorious actions was the Miami Showband massacre in 1975, a brutal incident in which three musicians lost their lives. The gang’s activities contributed significantly to the troubled period in Northern Ireland’s history.

Jon Boutcher, who initially took charge of investigating the activities of this group, has been a key figure in efforts to bring clarity to these dark chapters. Meanwhile, Freddie Scappaticci, better known by the codename Stakeknife, was identified as an agent linked to the gang’s operations, adding another layer of complexity to the investigations.

The remnants of the violent past are still vivid, with scenes such as the 1974 explosion on Parnell Street in Dublin illustrating the widespread impact of the conflict. Buildings were heavily damaged, and debris was strewn across the area, bearing witness to the intensity of the unrest during that era

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