On the morning of Monday 24 April a joint military/police cordon was established to keep people away from a military operation to examine and defuse suspected explosive devices on the railway line adjacent to the Kilwilkie housing estate in Lurgan.
By late afternoon a crowd of over 100 persons had gathered, throwing stones and petrol bombs at the security forces. As the military technical team attempted to leave the area at 9.00pm, the crowd threw some 40 petrol bombs at the police and military. Seven police officers were injured, three of whom required hospitalisation. There was a risk of the police sustaining further casualties.
Permission to deploy and use baton guns was granted, and a warning issued to the crowd that baton rounds would be discharged if the rioting did not cease. One baton round was subsequently fired at a person police said was wearing a balaclava and had been about to throw a petrol bomb. The baton round did not hit the person, but the crowd dispersed and the security force personnel were able to leave the area. The matter was reported to the Police Ombudsman.
During their investigation, investigators from the Police Ombudsman’s Office seized police documentation and took statements from all the officers who had been involved. A reconstruction of the incident was subsequently staged and filmed at the scene to establish the relative positions of those involved. Investigators also visited local hospitals but found no one alleging that they had been struck by a baton round. CCTV opportunities were also researched but no suitably located cameras were found, and no video was available from the RUC because they had not anticipated serious disorder in the area.
Outcome of investigation:
The Police Ombudsman concluded that the police had been subjected to a violent and sustained attack, and had demonstrated considerable restraint in their response. The discharge of the baton round was fully justified and proportionate and was instrumental in the dispersal of the hostile crowd. The deployment and use of the baton round was fully in accordance with ACPO (Association of Chief Police Officers) guidance.
Mrs O'Loan added, however that "the initial planning of the operation grossly underestimated the time the technical team would require to deal with the devices, which was a factor in the outbreak of serious public disorder later."