Shankill Butchers Gang

A disgraceful and extreme case of violence for which the Shankill is most widely known is that of the infamous "Shankill Butchers Gang". Over 30 people died in the 1970s by brutal attacks that usually included the slicing of the victims throat in a brutal manner with butcher knives. The gang specifically targeted Catholic men and most often caught their victims as they walked home from a night out in North Belfast. There was no other reason for their killings than that they were Catholic...

Interviews from some involved can be seen from 0:30 - 1:31

In total 12 men were said to have been involved in the group of killings but it took nearly a decade for a proper case to develop against them for conviction. In the end all of the men were jailed or killed by the IRA. However, one of the clauses in the Good Friday Agreements was that all persons jailed for crimes of sectarian violence during the troubles were released and eight of the original gang (not to mention the hundreds of other criminals) have been free to live among the general public for years now.

On multiple occasions a black taxi was seen escaping from the scene, and the area now promotes "Black Taxi Tours" from the origin of the attacks through the areas most notoriously associated with the troubles. Main stream paramilitary organizations during those times cut all ties with the vicious acts committed by this group and made it clear that they were extremists, yet the neighborhood remains scared by their actions.

If you have the time, a BBC documentary on the gang can be seen here