Gregory Taylor was a 41-year-old Protestant, a serving officer in the Royal Ulster Constabulary, and a devoted husband and father of three.

On the night of 7 July 1996, Gregory was socialising with friends in a public house in Ballymoney, County Antrim. Among those with him was an off-duty police officer. During the evening, Gregory was recognised as a police officer by some patrons and was subjected to verbal abuse. Tensions in the area were already high following disputes surrounding Orange Order parades in nearby Dunloy.

As the atmosphere deteriorated, Gregory used his mobile phone to contact police. However, the nearest patrol was several miles away. When Gregory and his friend later left the premises, they were confronted by a loyalist mob. Both men were attacked, but Gregory's friend managed to escape after being chased from the scene.

The mob then turned its full attention to Gregory. He was repeatedly beaten, kicked and stamped upon in a sustained and savage assault. A doctor arrived approximately fifteen minutes later, but Gregory's injuries were catastrophic, and he died at the scene.

Gregory, who lived just outside Ballymoney, was killed in one of the most shocking and brutal murders of the Drumcree era. His death sent shockwaves across Northern Ireland and remains a stark reminder of the dangers of sectarian hatred and mob violence.

The murder of Gregory Taylor was widely condemned. More than three decades later, the legacy of that crime continues to resonate, serving as a tragic chapter in Northern Ireland's troubled past and a reminder of the human cost of division.