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Violence - Killings by Military and Paramilitary Groupings, 1968-1993



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Text and Research: Martin Melaugh and Fionnuala McKenna
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Killings by Military and Paramilitary Groupings, 1968 - 1993

The following table is based on information contained in the Appendix to 'An Index of Deaths from the Conflict in Ireland 1969-1993' by Malcolm Sutton (1994). The table therefore does not contain those deaths that occurred between 1 January 1994 and the present day as a result of 'the Troubles'. The information in Sutton's book is much more detailed and also contains notes on definitions used. Anyone consulting the following data would be advised to read the Appendix.

Killings by Military and Paramilitary Groupings, by status of person killed, 1968 - 1993

Status of person killed
Republican 1
Loyalist 2
British Forces 3
Alleged informers
65
16
-
British forces
1,064
12
9 4
Civilians killed by British forces
-
-
194 5
Feud killings
44
46
-
Loyalist paramilitary activists
27
-
13
Others
158
32
-
Political activists
11
32
-
Republican paramilitary activists
-
28
141
Sectarian 6
151
713
-
Unintentional killings 7
406
32
-
Total killed
1,926
911
357

Source: Malcolm Sutton (1994) 'An Index of Deaths from the Conflict in Ireland 1969-1993'

Notes

1 Republican killings were mainly carried out by the Irish Republican Army (IRA), the Irish National Liberation Army (INLA), and the Official Irish Republican Army (OIRA) which called a ceasefire in May 1972.

2 Loyalist killings were mainly carried out by the Ulster Defence Association (UDA) - or associated groups such as the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF) - and the Ulster Volunteer Force (UVF) - or associated groups such as the Protestant Action Group (PAG) and the Protestant Action Force (PAF).

3 British Forces killings were mainly carried out by the British Army, the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR), and the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC).

4 This number includes some off-duty British Forces who were mistaken for civilians and a number of members who were on an undercover operation at the time of their death.

5 Most of those civilians killed by British Forces were Catholics.

6 Sectarian killings are defined as the deliberate killing of civilians because of their religion.

7 Most of the unintentional killings were civilians who were killed during gun or bomb attacks and also members of paramilitary groups who died in premature explosions.


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