Murder of Gillian Johnston

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Gillian Johnston was a chemist and shop worker from Northern Ireland who was murdered by the IRA on 18 March 1988; she was aged 21 at the time of her murder.

Overview[edit]

Johnston was a 21-year-old chemist and shop worker from Tonaghgorm, Legg, near Belleek, County Fermanagh.[1][2] She was engaged for two years, having dated her fiancé since she was fifteen. Johnston and her fiancé were sitting in her father's car, outside her home, when members of the IRA murdered her by firing 27 bullets into Gillian,[3] killing her and wounding her fiancé.[4]

After[edit]

The IRA later claimed the murder was a mistake and that the intended target had been Johnston's brother, whom they had claimed was a member of the Ulster Defence Regiment (UDR).[5] The IRA later stated it had been mistaken about Johnston's brother, as well.[3]

The IRA disbanded the unit which carried out the attack in reaction to public revulsion at the killing of Johnston and the killing of Harry Keys.[who?][5] The Gardaí linked a man in his mid-20s, a key member of the Ballyshannon ASU, to the murders of Keys, Johnston, and of William Hassard and Frederick Love. There was unconfirmed speculation that this unit was also responsible for the Remembrance Day bombing in Enniskillen in November 1987. Johnston was described by her employer as:

"... the kind of girl who was always smiling. I don't think I ever heard her say a bad word about anyone, people are just horrified."

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Cooney, John and Paul Vallely (21 March 1988). "Riot concern delays swoop on suspects: RUC and ministers in policing dilemma after killing of soldiers". The Times. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  2. ^ Leary, Mike (10 April 1988). "Republic Border Safe for No Man; Villagers Feel Eyes of IRA Upon Them". Wichita Eagle. p. 9A. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  3. ^ a b Slevin, Peter (14 July 1988). "Killing of Innocents Erodes IRA Backing in Ulster". Miami Herald. p. 16A. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  4. ^ Smith, Deborah (21 March 1988). "IRA Claims Dead Men Were SAS". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 9. Retrieved 2 November 2011.
  5. ^ a b "IRA Disbands an Attack Group After 'Unacceptable' Killings". San Francisco Chronicle. 25 January 1989. Retrieved 2 November 2011.

Sources[edit]

  • McKittrick, Kelters, Feeney, Thompson. Lost Lives: The stories of the men, women and children who died as a result of the Northern Ireland troubles (1999/2006); ISBN 1-84018-227-X
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