Page "Shankill Butchers" Paragraph 10

On 24 – 25 November 1975, Murphy adopted the method that gained the Butchers infamy far beyond Belfast.

Using the city's sectarian geography ( which remains to this day ) to identify likely targets, Murphy roamed the areas nearest the Catholic New Lodge in the hope of finding someone ( likely to be Catholic ) to abduct.

Francis Crossen ( 34 ), a Catholic man and father of two, was walking towards the city centre at approximately 12. 40 a. m. when four of the Butchers, in Moore's taxi, spotted him.

As the taxi pulled alongside Crossen, Murphy jumped out and hit the man with a wheel brace to disorientate him.

He was then dragged into the taxi by Benjamin Edwards and Archie Waller, two of Murphy's gang.

As the taxi returned to the safety of the nearby Shankill area, Crossen suffered a ferocious beating.

It is clear that he was subjected to a high level of violence, including a beer glass being shoved into his head.

Murphy repeatedly told Crossen: " I'm going to kill you, you bastard ", before the taxi stopped at an entry off Wimbledon Street.

Crossen was then dragged into an alleyway and Murphy, brandishing a butcher's knife, cut his throat almost through to the spine.

The gang then dispersed.

Crossen, whose body was found the next morning ( Tuesday ) by an elderly woman, had become the first of three Catholics to be killed by Murphy in this " horrific and brutal manner ".

" Slaughter in back alley " was the headline in the city's major afternoon newspaper that day.

A relative of Crossen said that his family was unable to open his coffin at his wake because the body was so badly mutilated.