Northern Ireland

Glenanne Gang tried to kill campaigning Catholic priest Fr Denis Faul

Priest highlighted RUC, UDR and UVF collusion in sectarian murders

Fr Denis Faul spoke out frequently against the treatment of internees and prisoners during the Troubles
Fr Denis Faul was target of the notorious Glenanne Gang, which included members of the RUC, UDR and UVF
By Connla Young, Crime and Security Correspondent

A notorious loyalist gang believed to have been responsible for around 120 murders failed in a bid to kill campaigning Catholic priest Fr Denis Faul.

Loyalist sources say members of the Glenanne Gang tried to murder the popular priest, almost 50 years ago, in the winter of 1975.

The Glenanne Gang, which included members of the RUC, UDR and UVF, was involved in a sectarian killing spree across Mid Ulster and beyond when plans to target the cleric, who died in 2006, were drawn up.

At the time Fr Faul, who later held the title monsignor, was a teacher at St Patrick’s Academy in Dungannon.

The Triangle of Death, published by Fr Denis Faul and Fr Raymond Murray in 1975, highlighted sectarian killings in Mid Ulster
The Triangle of Death, published by Fr Denis Faul and Fr Raymond Murray in 1975, highlighted sectarian killings in Mid Ulster

It is understood three-man hit-squad was involved in the murder bid, which failed when Fr Faul was not at the location the killer gang expected him to be.

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It is believed the murder gang had earlier assembled at a farm, which was used as a base by members of the Glenanne Gang, before setting off off to kill the priest.

At the time of the failed attack Fr Faul, along with Monsignor Raymond Murray, were among the first to raise the possibility of security force collusion in a series of sectarian murders carried out across Mid Ulster and beyond.

Their 1975 publication, Triangle of Death, highlighted killings in the Dungannon, Moy and Porta­down areas, with their concerns also raised with the British and Irish governments.

Both priests were heavily involved in exposing human rights abuses by the state, including the plight of those detained without trial during internment.

The campaigning priests also promoted the plight of nationalists and republicans who were mistreated while in RUC custody and were involved in other prominent justice campaigns.

It is now known that members of the Glenanne Gang, including serving police officers and British soldiers, colluded with the UVF in dozens of murders.

Some members of the murder squad operated from a farm owned by RUC reserve officer John Mitchell, which was located in the Glenanne district of south Armagh.

The activities of the gang are currently being examined separately by the Police Ombudsman and Operation Kenova.