 Nicknamed "The Surgeon", Hughes was described as having been one of the hardliners inside the republican movement.He was said to be in charge of the North Louth/Dromintee unit that carried out the ambush with assistance from members of the Crossmaglen group.The experienced North Louth/Dromintee unit has been implicated in up to 80 attacks including a car bombing on the main Dublin to Belfast road at Killeen, Newry on 23 July 1988.