On the ill-fated night,Tullyvallen LOL 630 opened their meeting in the usual manner, with prayer, and had just moved on to a general discussion, when several IRA gunmen burst into the Orange Hall through the kitchen at the back.
At 10pm two IRA gunmen wearing masks, burst open the door carrying machine guns. They sprayed the inside of the Lodge Room with bullets as they tried to cold bloodily murder the 17 men sitting in the hall, while another gunman fired through a window from outside.
Three lodge members were killed immediately while several others were wounded, one was to die shortly after at the scene and another two days later in hospital.
An off-duty member of the security forces attending the meeting was able to use a personal protection weapon to fire back, wounding one of the assailants who subsequently fled from the isolated hall. Emergency Services were called immediately to tend to the many wounded and the dead. Later outside the Army found a metal container with 2Ib of explosive inside. An estimated eight terrorists participated in this orgy of multiple murder, but only one, the driver of a getaway car was ever convicted. In 1977 he received seven life sentences for these murders and two others in 1976. Of course he was released some years ago.
In remembering those who died we must also remember the victims who are left behind, and who continue to feel the, grief, pain and despair.
The story of Tullyvallen has to be told as an example of the atrocities inflicted upon the Protestant people of Northern Ireland.
William McKee Protestant Civilian farmer, 70 yrs married with five children
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James McKee Protestant Civilian farmer, 40 yrs.
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Nevin McConnell Protestant Civilian livestock market manager, 40 yrs.
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John Johnson Protestant retired farmer 80 yrs
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William Herron died two days after the IRA attack on the Orange Hall
