DISSIDENTS HAD YEAR OF BLOOD AND TERROR
Dissidents had year of blood and terror
Scores of attacks before Omagh
By John Hicks
THE self-styled Real IRA started their short but bloody terror campaign almost exactly a year ago.
Before it ended with the Omagh massacre, the deadly breakaway Republican group had carried out a string of bombings, attempted bombings and firebomb attacks.
Its first attack was a massive van bomb in Markethill in Co Armagh, planted outside the local RUC station on September 16, 1997 .
There was a short warning and the explosion caused widespread damage, but no-one was hurt.
On January 6, this year the RIRA planted a car bomb in Banbridge town centre, but the device was defused.
The following month - on February 20 - a large "car bomb exploded outside the RUC station in Moira.
There was widespread damage and a number of civilians were injured but not seriously.
Three days later a 1,000lb car bomb devastated the centre of Portadown, causing extensive damage.
On March 10, the RIRA carried out an abortive mortar attack on the RUC station at Armagh.
On June 24, a car bomb exploded in Newtownhamilton on the day before the Assembly elections.
The bomb was made by the RIRA but claimed by the INLA.
The next month the RIRA carried out a mortar bomb attack on Newry police station. There was little damage but a number of civilians narrowly escaped injury.
A bomb planted in the town at the same time was defused.
In Portadown, the dissident group claimed responsibilty for a number of incendiary attacks on stores in the town on July 28.
The group came close to a massacre in Banbridge on August 2, when the security forces were given only a few minutes warning of a 5001b car bomb in the town centre.
More then 30 people were injured and millions of pounds worth of damage was caused to property.
Throughout the 12 months of terror, it is known that the security forces, north and south of the border, thwarted up to 30 planned attacks.
Scores of attacks before Omagh
By John Hicks
THE self-styled Real IRA started their short but bloody terror campaign almost exactly a year ago.
Before it ended with the Omagh massacre, the deadly breakaway Republican group had carried out a string of bombings, attempted bombings and firebomb attacks.
Its first attack was a massive van bomb in Markethill in Co Armagh, planted outside the local RUC station on September 16, 1997 .
There was a short warning and the explosion caused widespread damage, but no-one was hurt.
On January 6, this year the RIRA planted a car bomb in Banbridge town centre, but the device was defused.
The following month - on February 20 - a large "car bomb exploded outside the RUC station in Moira.
There was widespread damage and a number of civilians were injured but not seriously.
Three days later a 1,000lb car bomb devastated the centre of Portadown, causing extensive damage.
On March 10, the RIRA carried out an abortive mortar attack on the RUC station at Armagh.
On June 24, a car bomb exploded in Newtownhamilton on the day before the Assembly elections.
The bomb was made by the RIRA but claimed by the INLA.
The next month the RIRA carried out a mortar bomb attack on Newry police station. There was little damage but a number of civilians narrowly escaped injury.
A bomb planted in the town at the same time was defused.
In Portadown, the dissident group claimed responsibilty for a number of incendiary attacks on stores in the town on July 28.
The group came close to a massacre in Banbridge on August 2, when the security forces were given only a few minutes warning of a 5001b car bomb in the town centre.
More then 30 people were injured and millions of pounds worth of damage was caused to property.
Throughout the 12 months of terror, it is known that the security forces, north and south of the border, thwarted up to 30 planned attacks.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0395
Published Date: 08-Sep-98
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