At the same time the security forces hit back against the IRA with SAS ambushes. The most notable of many such incidents took place in May 1987 when eight IRA members were killed as they attacked a small RUC station in the County Armagh village of Loughgall. The heavily armed IRA unit was attempting to blow up the part-time station when waiting SAS soldiers opened fire on them, inflicting what was in terms of lives lost the worst single setback during the modern history of the IRA. Several of those killed were regarded as being among the IRA’s most proficient and most dangerous members.
