A MAN who was shot nine times as he prevented a massacre by loyalist gunmen at a Co Armagh pub has died. Michael McGrath slammed the door of the Rock Bar in Keady shut to thwart the Glenanne Gang’s attempt to launch a gun and bomb attack on drinkers in June 1976. It was one of a series of attacks carried out in the south Armagh area at the time by the notorious gang, which is believed to have included serving British crown forces.
Joe McGleenan, who owns the Rock Bar, last night said Mr McGrath, pictured, was a “quiet, unassuming man” who had harboured no bitterness about the attack. “He found it hard to talk about – but only for Mick closing the door on the night it would have been another Droppin’ Well,” he said, referring to an INLA attack on a Co Derry bar in 1982 which left 17 people dead.
“He didn’t just save the 18 or 19 people in the bar. He saved future generations.” Although doctors who operated on Mr McGrath were able to remove six of the bullets, fragments of the other three remained in his body. Mr McGleenan said: “He used to say if he went anywhere he would buzz going through the scanner.”
Mr Grath, who was 86 and a bachelor, lived with his brother Denis on their farm near the bar.He died in Newry hospice yesterday after a short battle with cancer. Mr McGrath died still “waiting for answers” from the Public Prosecution Service (PPS), Alan Brecknell of the Pat Finucane Centre said. “Mr McGrath had questions in relation to why, when three RUC men were charged in 1980 with his attempted murder, two were given suspended sentences for lesser charges and only one, Billy McCaughey, was sentenced to seven years, also on a lesser charge,” he said. Mr Brecknell said the PPS had this week said the matter would be looked into. He said the Historical Enquiries Team would deliver a report on the case in coming weeks. The Glenanne Gang have been blamed for a series of murders. The guns used at the Rock Bar were forensically linked to the murder of the Reavey brothers six months earlier. John (24), Brian (22) and Anthony (17) Reavey were murdered by gunmen who burst into their Whitecross home in south Armagh. Less than an hour later three members of the O’Dowd family – Joseph and his nephews Barry and Declan – were gunned down in their home in nearby Gilford. The same gang have also been linked to the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings and other murders in the south Armagh area.
Joe McGleenan, who owns the Rock Bar, last night said Mr McGrath, pictured, was a “quiet, unassuming man” who had harboured no bitterness about the attack. “He found it hard to talk about – but only for Mick closing the door on the night it would have been another Droppin’ Well,” he said, referring to an INLA attack on a Co Derry bar in 1982 which left 17 people dead.
“He didn’t just save the 18 or 19 people in the bar. He saved future generations.” Although doctors who operated on Mr McGrath were able to remove six of the bullets, fragments of the other three remained in his body. Mr McGleenan said: “He used to say if he went anywhere he would buzz going through the scanner.”
Mr Grath, who was 86 and a bachelor, lived with his brother Denis on their farm near the bar.He died in Newry hospice yesterday after a short battle with cancer. Mr McGrath died still “waiting for answers” from the Public Prosecution Service (PPS), Alan Brecknell of the Pat Finucane Centre said. “Mr McGrath had questions in relation to why, when three RUC men were charged in 1980 with his attempted murder, two were given suspended sentences for lesser charges and only one, Billy McCaughey, was sentenced to seven years, also on a lesser charge,” he said. Mr Brecknell said the PPS had this week said the matter would be looked into. He said the Historical Enquiries Team would deliver a report on the case in coming weeks. The Glenanne Gang have been blamed for a series of murders. The guns used at the Rock Bar were forensically linked to the murder of the Reavey brothers six months earlier. John (24), Brian (22) and Anthony (17) Reavey were murdered by gunmen who burst into their Whitecross home in south Armagh. Less than an hour later three members of the O’Dowd family – Joseph and his nephews Barry and Declan – were gunned down in their home in nearby Gilford. The same gang have also been linked to the 1974 Dublin and Monaghan bombings and other murders in the south Armagh area.