‘The most evil of acts’ – The Darkley church massacre 40 years later

A week before, I had written a feature on the dreadful events which took place near there 40 years ago.

Harold Browne (59), Victor Cunningham (39) and David Wilson (44) - all members of the tiny mission hall known as ‘Mountain Lodge’ - were shot to death as they sang the hymn, ‘Are You Washed in the Blood?’’

Seven other members of the 60 strong congregation were also wounded when three INLA gunmen - led by the notorious republican terrorist Dominic McGlinchey - opened fire on them with automatic weapons.

As the Mountain Lodge faithful mingled before yesterday’s service, there was little talk about the horror which was visited on their flock forty years ago.

But for worshipers of a certain age, what became known as - The Darkley Massacre – was foremost in their thoughts.

The picturesque Mountain Lodge Pentecostal Church is built in a spectacularly beautiful rural setting on the edge of a planted forest in south Armagh.

It caters for worshipers from both sides of the Irish border which is around two miles away. The former mill village of Darkley, lies around a mile and a half away to the east, on the road to Keady.

Just 50 yards from the front door of the church, is the tiny wooden structure which was used as a former place of worship before the new church was built in 1990.

And it was at 6.20pm on 20 November ’23, that evil came to visit the simple Christian folk who worshipped there.

A strange feeling came over me as I walked the few yards from my car to the front door of the new church built on the same site. A man standing at the entrance offered me his hand and told me I was very welcome.

Inside Pastor David Bell, who was aware I’d previously written about the Darkley Massacre, also shook hands and he told me to take a seat of my choice.

When the service started at 11am precisely, joy and happiness filled the air as Pastor Bell led his flock in singing a series of hymns.

Pastor Bell also said he was aware of a big public interest in the events of four decades ago.

However, he explained church leaders had taken a collective decision not to do any interviews about what happened at Mountain Lodge.

But Jim Murtagh (68) from Belfast, told me he had made the 100 mile round trip to demonstrate his support for the worshipers of Darkley.

He said: “I just felt it was important to come here today to be with the people of Mountain Lodge.

“What took place here 40 years ago was the most evil of acts and there should be some kind of monument here to remind people about what happened.” he said.

But as I discovered, the people of Mountain Lodge have their own way of doing things.

The small wooden building - where the massacre took place - is situated less than 100 years away across the car park.

Today, it operates as part time Sunday school to the many children from the surrounding area who now attend Mountain Lodge.

When the service was over, Pastor Bell - who as a young man was present when the republican killers called – signed a copy of his book ‘Fire on the Mountain’ for me.

Pastor Bell’s wife Sally was one of those shot that day, but she survived.

When I got back to my car, I glanced at the inscription in the book.

The clergyman had highlighted verses five and six from Chapter 3 in the Book of Proverbs: ‘Trust in the Lord with all thy heart’.

I would urge everyone to take the trouble to visit Mountain Lodge Pentecostal Church in Darkley. There are lessons to be learned.