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Kingsmills massacre: Police inquiry re-opens after fingerprints matched | Kingsmills massacre: Police inquiry re-opens after fingerprints matched |
(35 minutes later) | |
Police are to re-open their inquiry into the Kingsmills massacre following the discovery of new evidence. | Police are to re-open their inquiry into the Kingsmills massacre following the discovery of new evidence. |
A palm print found on a getaway van has been linked to a set of fingerprints. | A palm print found on a getaway van has been linked to a set of fingerprints. |
The new evidence comes 40 years after the killings by an IRA gang and 13 years after the families began fighting for an inquest. | The new evidence comes 40 years after the killings by an IRA gang and 13 years after the families began fighting for an inquest. |
Ten Protestant men were shot dead in the massacre by an IRA gang near the County Armagh village of Kingsmills in 1976. | Ten Protestant men were shot dead in the massacre by an IRA gang near the County Armagh village of Kingsmills in 1976. |
Colin Worton, whose 24-year-old brother, Kenneth, was one of the men killed, said the announcement that the PSNI would re-open the investigation was a "total shock". | Colin Worton, whose 24-year-old brother, Kenneth, was one of the men killed, said the announcement that the PSNI would re-open the investigation was a "total shock". |
"I have to be truthful to you", he told the BBC, "I do feel a mixture of emotions, but one of the worst ones I have is anger. | "I have to be truthful to you", he told the BBC, "I do feel a mixture of emotions, but one of the worst ones I have is anger. |
'Sickened' | |
"Why has this taken more than 40 years to come out?" | "Why has this taken more than 40 years to come out?" |
He called the men who fired the shots "animals" and said he was "totally sickened" that the investigation has gone on so long. | He called the men who fired the shots "animals" and said he was "totally sickened" that the investigation has gone on so long. |
The men who were killed were travelling home from work in a textile factory when their mini-bus was ambushed. | The men who were killed were travelling home from work in a textile factory when their mini-bus was ambushed. |
After checking their religion, the gang ordered one Catholic to leave before opening fire. | After checking their religion, the gang ordered one Catholic to leave before opening fire. |
Only one man survived the shootings. | Only one man survived the shootings. |
Alan Black, a 32-year-old father of three at the time, was seriously wounded and spent months recovering in hospital. | Alan Black, a 32-year-old father of three at the time, was seriously wounded and spent months recovering in hospital. |
On Tuesday, an inquest into the deaths resumed following a short delay. | On Tuesday, an inquest into the deaths resumed following a short delay. |
A senior investigating officer has now been allocated to the case and the criminal investigation re-opened. | A senior investigating officer has now been allocated to the case and the criminal investigation re-opened. |
Difficult time | |
Ass Chief Constable Mark Hamilton, head of the PSNI's legacy and justice department, said he appreciated this was "a very difficult time" for the victims' families. | |
"Due to a recent forensic development, detectives from legacy investigation branch are now following a line of inquiry in relation to the murders at Kingsmills in 1976", he said. | |
"We have been liaising with the coroner's office in relation to this and will continue to do so. | |
"We are committed to progressing this matter as expeditiously as possible and will keep them (the families) updated as appropriate." |