An SAS team which shot dead four IRA men in an ambush in Co Tyrone used lethal force which was not justified, an inquest has ruled.
Daniel Vincent, Kevin O’Donnell, Sean O’Farrell and Peter Clancy were shot dead after attacking Coalisland RUC Station in 1992.
Soldiers opened fire at Clonoe chapel as they dumped a lorry used in the machine-gun attack.
The SAS unit fired more than 500 rounds without warning as the gang arrived at St Patrick’s Church car park in a hijacked lorry with a heavy machine gun welded to its tailgate.
Mr Justice Humphreys, presiding as coroner, found that in each case, the use of lethal force was not justified.
He said the soldiers did not have an honest belief that it was necessary in order to prevent loss of life.
He said the use of force by the soldiers was, in the circumstances they believed them to be, not reasonable.
The coroner also found that the operation was not planned and controlled to minimise the need for lethal force.
The four men who died were from the east Tyrone area.
The inquest found O’Donnell died as a result of gunshot wounds to the head and chest.
Vincent died as a result of gunshot wounds to the head.
Clancy died as a result of a gunshot wounds to the head and trunk.
O’Farrell died as a result of gunshot wounds to the head and trunk.
More to follow