Derg Valley Victims' Voice

01/09/2026

Remembering murdered Sister and Brethren on

“Faithful Unto Death”

22/08/2026

RONALD FINLAY
32, married with 3 children
Ulster Defence Regiment
Murdered whilst off duty
23rd August 1983

Ronald Finlay was one of five brothers who served in the UDR. His full time employment was at the Adria factory in Strabane.

It had not gone unnoticed by someone in the workforce in the republican town that he was a Protestant and a member of the security forces. Mr Finlay knew he was at risk of attack even when he was off duty. For this reason, Ronald routinely carried his personal protection weapon and wore body armour under a baggy sweater when working in the factory, but had gone without his body armour due to the very warm summer weather.

This was spotted as he left the factory grounds when his shift ended, IRA terrorist gunmen were waiting on a motorbike. The pillion passenger opened fire, hitting Mr. Finlay 10 times. A witness to the savage killing said it happened so fast “Ronnie just didn’t have a chance”.

A follow up operation failed to uncover the murderers, who had abandoned their motorbike a short distance away in the Ballycolman area.

Ronald's funeral was organised by his Company Sergeant Major, who was one of his four UDR soldier brothers.

No-one has been brought to justice for Ronald Finlay's murder.

Lest we forget.

18/08/2026

ANDREW BOGLE
43, married with children
Civilian construction worker
Murdered in bomb attack
18th August 1990

Andrew Bogle was a civilian who worked for a building contractor whose premises were close to his home on Castlederg's Strabane Road. Mr Bogle had returned to his job part-time as he fought a serious health condition.

On the morning of his murder he spoke to his employer and made his way to a mechanical digger which he was going to use in the course of his work. Unbeknownst to Mr Bogle, IRA terrorists had planted a bomb in a piece of timber the previous night which they hid close to the digger. As he started the vehicle the 1lb Semtex device exploded, killing Mr Bogle.

The terrorists who murdered Mr Bogle said they had targeted his employer's firm because it did work for the security forces.

Three years later a local republican was convicted and jailed for his part in Mr Bogle's murder, but was subsequently released from prison without serving his sentence under the terms of the Agreement.

Lest we forget.

14/08/2026

RONALD FINLAY
47, married with two children
Ex-Ulster Defence Regiment
Murdered going to work
15th August 1991

Ronald Finlay had served in 6UDR for 18 years, during which time he had attained the rank of corporal. He left the UDR to spend more time with his family.

Mr Finlay was ambushed by three terrorists when his wife and young sons dropped him off at the farm where he had worked for the previous thirty years. He was struck by gunfire from assault rifles, and died at the scene. As a civilian Mr Finlay was unarmed and had no means of defending himself.

The terrorists proceeded to threaten Mrs Finlay by training their weapons on her and shooting the tyres of her car. She was only able to summon help by taking her boys almost a mile across fields to the nearest house.

Mr Finlay was liked by everyone. His brother Winston had been murdered by the IRA in 1987. He was the sixth member of his Lodge, Tullywhisker Border Guards LOL 1120 to be murdered by republican terrorists. No one has been brought to justice for his murder.

We remember Mr Finlay’s family on this, the 35th anniversary of his murder.

Lest we forget.

12/08/2026

Brothers Andrew and Bryan Finlay are preparing to climb Ben Nevis this weekend, the UK's highest peak. They are doing so in memory of their father who was cruelly shot dead in front of them by Republican terrorists 35 years ago, with a 3k walk/5k fun run around the town this evening at 7pm.

🚶 Please show your support for Andrew and Bryan on the streets this evening, or by joining them on their walk/run.

💰 You can also support them by donating using the QR code in the image - funds raised will support development of the new Derg Parish Youth Centre.

Best wishes to all participants

08/08/2026

Pte. WINSTON DONNELL
22, single
Ulster Defence Regiment
Murdered whilst on duty in Clady
9th August 1971

Winston Donnell lived in Urney, close to the nationalist village of Clady, Co. Tyrone. He had enlisted in the UDR on a part-time basis along with three of his brothers when the regiment was formed in 1970.

On Monday 9th August 1971 the Government launched 'Operation Demetrius', or selective internment, in a bid to de-escalate the rapidly increasing levels of terrorist violence in Northern Ireland. The UDR was called out on a full-time basis for the first time, in an operation involving around 3,000 of its soldiers.

As part of 'Demetrius', Pte. Donnell was on patrol with colleagues on the outskirts of Clady on the late evening of 9th August, where they set up a vehicle checkpoint. At around 11.50pm two shots were fired in the direction of the UDR patrol, but no-one was injured and the source of the shooting wasn’t established. A few minutes later a white car drove past the patrol. The car stopped at a gateway and reversed towards the soldiers. As Pte. Donnell approached the vehicle, an IRA terrorist inside opened fire through the rear window. Around 30 shots were discharged in three bursts from a Thompson sub-machinegun. Pte. Donnell was hit by several rounds and was declared dead on admission to Strabane hospital.

The Northern Ireland Prime Minister Brian Faulkner was among many dignitaries who attended Mr. Donnell’s funeral. A total of 61 wreaths were sent by a variety of individuals, families, the military and other organisations.

Winston Donnell was the first UDR soldier to be murdered during the Troubles and the first of six members of Tullywhisker Border Guards LOL 1120 to be murdered by the IRA. No-one has ever been brought to justice for Winston's murder. A church service will be held today to commemorate Winston’s life.

Lest we forget.

05/08/2026

Please do what you can to support this worthy venture

On Wednesday 12th August, starting at 7pm, there will be a fun run and walk in Castlederg.
This will be both a send off, and a walk and run in memory of Ronald Finlay.
15th August 2026 marks 35 years since Ronnie was murdered, and 15th August is when the group will attempt to climb Ben Nevis to mark a very significant date for the Finlay family.

Having been an avid church goer and a church warden, a hike on this significant date to raise funds for the new Derg Parish Centre is a fitting homage to Ronnie's legacy.

I hope you will join us with your friends and family for the final stretch of the legs before the group sets off for Ben Nevis.

https://gofund.me/d773da662

02/08/2026

WILLIAM CLARKE
59, married with a grown-up family
Ulster Defence Regiment
Murdered whilst off duty
3rd August 1980

William Clarke, or ‘Bill’ as he was known, was from Castlederg. On the Sunday of his murder he was at his son's house for lunch when he received news that some cattle he kept in the Irish Republic near Pettigo weren't well and needed attention. Mr Clarke finished his lunch and left his son's house for Donegal.

When he was a short distance from the field where he kept his cattle, Bill manoeuvred his van around a sharp turn in a road. It was there that three IRA terrorists had been awaiting his arrival and ambushed him with assault rifles, inflicting multiple bullet wounds at close range. Mr Clarke had no chance of defending himself and died instantly. Friends described Mr. Clarke as a likeable man who was well known in the Castlederg area.

It later emerged a Garda patrol in the nearby village had heard the shooting and set up a check point on the road leading from Pettigo towards Donegal town, but the officers failed to apprehend the fleeing gunmen. Two men were brought before the courts and charged with terrorist offences but were acquitted of the murder charges.

Always remembered.

Lest we forget.

02/08/2026

WILLIAM CLARK
35, married with four children
Royal Army Ordnance Corps
Murdered whilst carrying out his duty
3rd August 1972

Warrant Officer Class 2 William James Clark was born in Singapore and grew up in Laurencekirk, Kincardineshire in Scotland.

William enlisted in the Royal Army Ordnance Corps as an ammunition technician. He served in numerous countries, including Cyprus and Borneo. In July 1972, he left for Northern Ireland on Operation Banner. Just nine days into his deployment on August 3rd 1972, a patrol of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers operating outside the nationalist village of Clady, close to Strabane, came upon a suspicious device in a gateway just a couple of hundred yards away from Urney Presbyterian Church.

WO2 Clark was sent to the scene to attempt to examine and attempt to defuse the device. As he worked at the IRA bomb, it detonated unexpectedly, causing a huge explosion. WO2 Clark was killed instantly.

Mr. Clark was laid to rest at Acklam Cemetery, Middlesborough. William Clark's family was awarded the Elizabeth Cross.

No-one has ever been brought to justice for William Clark’s murder.

Lest we forget.

17/07/2026

“40 years since surviving a bomb attack in Castlederg, I still want justice”

By Stevan Patterson

Full story:

40 years since surviving a bomb attack in Castlederg, I still want justice