RUC patrol stopped by armed men before South Armagh double murder: On This Day in 1976

July 25 1976Half an hour before two Gaelic football supporters, returning home from a match in Dublin, were murdered on the South Armagh Border last August, armed policemen travelling in an unmarked car were flagged down by a man wearing full military combat gear.An inquest jury heard this in Armagh when open verdicts were recorded on John Patrick Farmer (30) digger driver, Dungannon Road, Moy, and Colum Gerard McCartney (22) fitter, Deerpark Road, Bellaghy.The men were gunned to death on August 24 last at Altmamackin, Newtownhamilton, 600 yards from the Louth Border and a quarter of a mile from where the three-man RUC patrol was stopped.Three weapons – a .45 revolver, a .45 automatic pistol, and a sub-machine gun – were used by the killers. Mr Farmer, a father of four young boys was hit b