[en] When KMgF₃:Mn is irradiated at room temperature, Mn²⁺-F centre pairs are created. A subsequent UV bleach at 77 K ionizes the F electron leaving an Mn²⁺-fluorine vacancy centre. The ESR spectrum associated with this centre exhibits a large crystal-field splitting with principal axes along the <100> directions. A small deviation from purely axial symmetry is explained by considering the distortion of the remaining five fluorine ions from their normal lattice positions. A pulse anneal study indicates that the Mn²⁺-fluorine vacancy centre dissociates at 185 K. (author)