The McMahon killings or the McMahon murders occurred on 24 March 1922 when six Catholic civilians were shot dead at the home of the McMahon family in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Police officers broke into their house at night and shot all eight males inside, in an apparent sectarian attack. The victims were businessman Owen McMahon, four of his sons, and one of his employees. Two others were shot but survived, and a female family member was assaulted. The survivors said that most of the gunmen wore police uniforms and it is suspected that they were members of the Ulster Special Constabulary. It is believed to have been a reprisal for the Irish Republican Army's (IRA) killing of two policemen the day before.