the first serving catholic to be killed was 32-year-old part-time private sean russell of 7 udr, who was shot dead on 8 december 1971, in front of his wife and children, by members of the irish republican army who burst into his home in the predominantly catholic area of new barnsley, belfast. the last was part-time private william megrath of 11 udr who was shot dead in july 1987 as he drove through the twinbrook area of west belfast on his way home from his civilian job.