Tullylish is a quiet rural parish, in the east of County Down. But during the Troubles, it was known for being part of a ‘murder triangle’ and an area blighted by paramilitary violence.
From the 1970s to the mid-90s, over 20 people in the area were murdered, including 11-year-old Alan McCrum who was killed by an IRA bomb.
The Mid-Ulster UVF were also operating in the area. Under the command of Robin ‘the Jackal’ Jackson, they murdered many innocent Catholics.
Jackson coordinated notorious attacks like the Miami Showband massacre, in which three people were murdered. He is also linked to sectarian attacks against Catholic families.
Ciarán Dunbar is joined by Sunday Life editor Martin Breen and Martin Doyle, author of “Dirty Linen” – a book about his experiences growing up in Tullylish.
Northern Ireland’s ‘Murder Triangle’ (Part 1) : Robin ‘The Jackal’ Jackson and the murders of Tullylish
This episode was originally published in November 2023. The BelTel is revisiting three stories from Northern Ireland’s ‘Murder Triangle’ – an area which became infamous for brutal murders perpetrated during the Troubles by both Loyalist and Republican paramilitaries.