05: The Shankill Butchers

The Shankill Butchers were a group of men who terrorised the streets of North Belfast from 1975 to 1982. In that time, there were around 12 people in the gang and they all had one thing in common… A savage hatred of Catholics. They were branded the Butchers because of the cut-throat killings that they committed on some of their victims, but they also used bombs and bullets during their campaign.

[@jackwild8019]

The Shankill Road is an eerie place 🇬🇧

[@noodles169]

They were absolutely brutal. To the point that even the loyalists were scared of them, and eventually gave them up to the other side

[@seanmcdonnell342]

my first job was making tea for group off builders an joe donegan was the joiner, a nicer man you couldnt hav met

[@kbdutch]

The shankill butchers were serial killers,being cathiolic was just an excuse

[@paulflah4562]

The book wascwritten by martin dillon not Mark dillon. Just for the record and is well worth a read.
By the way does anyone else think that William ( billy) moore may have been more responsible than given credit for given that he was there and played a leading part in every so called cut throat murder including the ones when murphy was in jail?

[@eamonmcauley]

His two brothers were his eyes and ears. William and John. In the book they are refered to as MrA and Mr B. The full story isn't told untill these two men are mentioned. John (MrB) died in a car accident in 1997. MrA (William) is still alive (as far as I know). The only other prominent butcher still alive is Sam McAllister.

[@damien1351]

Yup he's still alive. His son was jailed for killing a pensioner.

[@eamonmcauley]

@@damien1351 indeed. Murdered his neighbor in Battenburg St, an old War hero called Spence. For a few quid also. I walk up the Shankill all the time and have many friends live there. I see Edward McIlwayne all the time. He was involved in the abduction and torture of Gerard McLaverty. He is always standing outside the Mountainview Bar. I think he has a large tumor in his belly.

[@TheJamezD]

These are really interesting, i would love to get involved as the Troubles are my primary research focus, HMU! Really good listen!

[@troublespodcast]

Check the pod out on all major podcasting apps, I'm just a bit too forgetful to upload to youtube. The email for the pod is [e-mail]

[@TheNoSuchThingPodcast]

I could tell you many stories man that didn’t make the news. Up close and personal stuff that didn’t make the news