BLAST MIRRORS PREVIOUS ATTACKS
Blast mirrors previous attacks
By Martin Breen
THE Irvinestown bomb attack bore all the hallmarks of the Continuity IRA in Fermanagh.
For their intention to create a huge fireball engulfing the Catholic-owned Mahon's Hotel mirrored similar attacks in the past five years.
SEVERAL calls to radio stations in Northern Ireland were made from spokespersons claiming to be from the republican splinter group about the attack - although these are understood not to have included code words.
This has been a trait of the CIRA in past years when code words have not always been given to create confusion in political and security circles.
The group first emerged in December 1994 with an attempted bombing which had chilling similarities to last night's incident when explosives were placed under an oil tank. Five years ago, a bomb containing over one pound of Semtex explosive attached to a can of petrol was left outside a furniture store but was defused before it could explode and create a fireball.
Security sources have long warned about the possibility of a CIRA attack disrupting the peace process and security chiefs had believed Co Fermanagh was the area most under threat.
For while the RUC know the identity of senior CIRA activists in the county and in neighbouring Leitrim and Donegal, they have been unable to bring terrorist charges against any of them.
Fears have been heightened over recent days, as it was believed dissident groups had wanted to send a signal to the IRA not to "go soft" on any decommissioning of arms.
The Continuity IRA is a small group which split from the IRA back in 1986 over Sinn Fein's decision to enter the Irish parliament if elected.
It is the only dissident republican paramilitary group not on ceasefire, regarding the Good Friday Agreement as a "sell out" by republicans.
The group is separate from the Real IRA, which carried out the attack on Omagh on August 15,1998 but informal and close links have been developed .
The Continuity IRA has made a habit of setting off its bombs at times of the greatest tensions and with maximum impact.
It has also tended to target hotels and entertainment venues in the Fermanagh area.
In July 1996 the Continuity IRA was responsible for the destruction of the Killyhevlin Hotel in Enniskillen. A 1200lb jeep bomb ripped through the lakeside hotel. The attack came at a time of high tensions at the end of a week-long stand-off by the Orange Order at Drumcree.
Months later a 300lb car bomb was defused outside a hotel in Lisbellaw.
In September 1997 it devastated the centre of Markethill, Co Armagh, 24 hours after Sinn Fein first took its place at the negotiating table at Stormont, joining the dialogue which led to the signing of the Agreement.
In January 1998 it bombed a nightclub in Enniskillen during a time of loyalist attacks in retaliation for the murder of LVF leader Billy Wright.
By Martin Breen
THE Irvinestown bomb attack bore all the hallmarks of the Continuity IRA in Fermanagh.
For their intention to create a huge fireball engulfing the Catholic-owned Mahon's Hotel mirrored similar attacks in the past five years.
SEVERAL calls to radio stations in Northern Ireland were made from spokespersons claiming to be from the republican splinter group about the attack - although these are understood not to have included code words.
This has been a trait of the CIRA in past years when code words have not always been given to create confusion in political and security circles.
The group first emerged in December 1994 with an attempted bombing which had chilling similarities to last night's incident when explosives were placed under an oil tank. Five years ago, a bomb containing over one pound of Semtex explosive attached to a can of petrol was left outside a furniture store but was defused before it could explode and create a fireball.
Security sources have long warned about the possibility of a CIRA attack disrupting the peace process and security chiefs had believed Co Fermanagh was the area most under threat.
For while the RUC know the identity of senior CIRA activists in the county and in neighbouring Leitrim and Donegal, they have been unable to bring terrorist charges against any of them.
Fears have been heightened over recent days, as it was believed dissident groups had wanted to send a signal to the IRA not to "go soft" on any decommissioning of arms.
The Continuity IRA is a small group which split from the IRA back in 1986 over Sinn Fein's decision to enter the Irish parliament if elected.
It is the only dissident republican paramilitary group not on ceasefire, regarding the Good Friday Agreement as a "sell out" by republicans.
The group is separate from the Real IRA, which carried out the attack on Omagh on August 15,1998 but informal and close links have been developed .
The Continuity IRA has made a habit of setting off its bombs at times of the greatest tensions and with maximum impact.
It has also tended to target hotels and entertainment venues in the Fermanagh area.
In July 1996 the Continuity IRA was responsible for the destruction of the Killyhevlin Hotel in Enniskillen. A 1200lb jeep bomb ripped through the lakeside hotel. The attack came at a time of high tensions at the end of a week-long stand-off by the Orange Order at Drumcree.
Months later a 300lb car bomb was defused outside a hotel in Lisbellaw.
In September 1997 it devastated the centre of Markethill, Co Armagh, 24 hours after Sinn Fein first took its place at the negotiating table at Stormont, joining the dialogue which led to the signing of the Agreement.
In January 1998 it bombed a nightclub in Enniskillen during a time of loyalist attacks in retaliation for the murder of LVF leader Billy Wright.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0730
Published Date: 07-Feb-00
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