La Mon Restaurant Bombing
Encyclopedia
The La Mon restaurant bombing was an incendiary bomb attack by the Provisional Irish Republican Army
(IRA) on 17 February 1978. The target was a hotel/restaurant near Belfast
, Northern Ireland
. The IRA unit who planted the bomb tried to send warnings by telephone, but was unable to do so until nine minutes before the blast. Twelve people were killed and thirty were injured. It has been described as "one of the worst atrocities" in Northern Ireland during The Troubles
.
. After planting the bomb, the IRA members tried to send a warning from the nearest public telephone, but found that it had been vandalized. On their way to another telephone they were delayed again when forced to stop at an Ulster Defence Regiment
(UDR) checkpoint. By the time they were able to send the warning, only nine minutes remained—the bomb exploded at 21:00. The Royal Ulster Constabulary
(RUC) base at Newtownards
had received two further telephone warnings at 20:57 and 21:04.
Twelve people were killed (seven of whom were women) and a further 30 were injured, many of them critically. The dead included eleven Protestant civilians and one RUC officer. Most of the victims were members of the Irish Collie Club and the Northern Ireland Junior Motor Cycle Club, which were staging meetings in the room. Some were still receiving treatment 20 years later.
The device was a small blast bomb
attached to two large petrol canisters, each filled with a home-made napalm
-like substance of petrol and sugar. This was designed to stick to whatever it hit; a combination which caused severe burn injuries. According to a published account by retired RUC Detective Superintendent Kevin Sheehy, this type of device had already been used by the IRA in more than one hundred attacks on commercial buildings before the La Mon attack.
gave strict instructions to all units not to bomb buses, trains or hotels.
The same day, about 2000 people attended a lunchtime service organized by the Orange Order at Belfast City Hall
. Belfast International Airport
also shut for an hour, while many workers in Belfast and Larne
stopped work for a time. Workers at a number of factories said they were contributing a half-day's pay to a fund for the victims.
A team of 100 RUC detectives was deployed in the investigation. As part of the investigation, 25 people were arrested in Belfast, including Gerry Adams
. Two prosecutions followed. One Belfast man was charged with the twelve murders but was acquitted. He was convicted of IRA membership but successfully appealed. In September 1981, another Belfast man was given twelve life sentences for the manslaughter of those who died.
The then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
, Roy Mason
, who was criticized by loyalists
for his complacent attitude to the attack, claimed that the explosion was "an act of criminal irresponsibility" performed "by remnants of IRA gangs". He also claimed that the IRA was on the decline.
In 2002, the Parliament of the United Kingdom
considered starting a new inquiry but the proposal was not acted upon.
Provisional Irish Republican Army
The Provisional Irish Republican Army is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation whose aim was to remove Northern Ireland from the United Kingdom and bring about a socialist republic within a united Ireland by force of arms and political persuasion...
(IRA) on 17 February 1978. The target was a hotel/restaurant near Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
, Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland
Northern Ireland is one of the four countries of the United Kingdom. Situated in the north-east of the island of Ireland, it shares a border with the Republic of Ireland to the south and west...
. The IRA unit who planted the bomb tried to send warnings by telephone, but was unable to do so until nine minutes before the blast. Twelve people were killed and thirty were injured. It has been described as "one of the worst atrocities" in Northern Ireland during The Troubles
The Troubles
The Troubles was a period of ethno-political conflict in Northern Ireland which spilled over at various times into England, the Republic of Ireland, and mainland Europe. The duration of the Troubles is conventionally dated from the late 1960s and considered by many to have ended with the Belfast...
.
The bombing
On 17 February 1978, IRA members planted an incendiary bomb outside the window of the Peacock Room in the restaurant of the La Mon House Hotel, about 14 miles (22.5 km) southeast of BelfastBelfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. After planting the bomb, the IRA members tried to send a warning from the nearest public telephone, but found that it had been vandalized. On their way to another telephone they were delayed again when forced to stop at an Ulster Defence Regiment
Ulster Defence Regiment
The Ulster Defence Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army which became operational in 1970, formed on similar lines to other British reserve forces but with the operational role of defence of life or property in Northern Ireland against armed attack or sabotage...
(UDR) checkpoint. By the time they were able to send the warning, only nine minutes remained—the bomb exploded at 21:00. The Royal Ulster Constabulary
Royal Ulster Constabulary
The Royal Ulster Constabulary was the name of the police force in Northern Ireland from 1922 to 2000. Following the awarding of the George Cross in 2000, it was subsequently known as the Royal Ulster Constabulary GC. It was founded on 1 June 1922 out of the Royal Irish Constabulary...
(RUC) base at Newtownards
Newtownards
Newtownards is a large town in County Down, Northern Ireland. It lies at the most northern tip of Strangford Lough, 10 miles east of Belfast, on the Ards Peninsula. Newtownards is the largest town in the Borough of Ards. According to the 2001 Census, it has a population of 27,821 people in...
had received two further telephone warnings at 20:57 and 21:04.
Twelve people were killed (seven of whom were women) and a further 30 were injured, many of them critically. The dead included eleven Protestant civilians and one RUC officer. Most of the victims were members of the Irish Collie Club and the Northern Ireland Junior Motor Cycle Club, which were staging meetings in the room. Some were still receiving treatment 20 years later.
The device was a small blast bomb
Blast bomb
Blast bomb is a term used in Northern Ireland for a type of improvised explosive device. More specifically, these devices are usually a form of homemade grenade, which is thrown at a target. These devices have been used in a number of public order situations, and in attacks on the Royal Ulster...
attached to two large petrol canisters, each filled with a home-made napalm
Napalm
Napalm is a thickening/gelling agent generally mixed with gasoline or a similar fuel for use in an incendiary device, primarily as an anti-personnel weapon...
-like substance of petrol and sugar. This was designed to stick to whatever it hit; a combination which caused severe burn injuries. According to a published account by retired RUC Detective Superintendent Kevin Sheehy, this type of device had already been used by the IRA in more than one hundred attacks on commercial buildings before the La Mon attack.
Aftermath
The day after the explosion, the IRA admitted responsibility and apologized for the inadequate warning. As a result of the botched attack, the IRA Army CouncilIRA Army Council
The IRA Army Council was the decision-making body of the Provisional Irish Republican Army, more commonly known as the IRA, a paramilitary group dedicated to bringing about the end of the Union between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom. The council had seven members, said by the...
gave strict instructions to all units not to bomb buses, trains or hotels.
The same day, about 2000 people attended a lunchtime service organized by the Orange Order at Belfast City Hall
Belfast City Hall
Belfast City Hall is the civic building of the Belfast City Council. Located in Donegall Square, Belfast, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, it faces north and effectively divides the commercial and business areas of the city centre.-History:...
. Belfast International Airport
Belfast International Airport
Belfast International Airport is a major airport located northwest of Belfast in Northern Ireland. It was formerly known and is still referred to as Aldergrove Airport, after the village of the same name lying immediately to the west of the airport. Belfast International shares its runways with...
also shut for an hour, while many workers in Belfast and Larne
Larne
Larne is a substantial seaport and industrial market town on the east coast of County Antrim, Northern Ireland with a population of 18,228 people in the 2001 Census. As of 2011, there are about 31,000 residents in the greater Larne area. It has been used as a seaport for over 1,000 years, and is...
stopped work for a time. Workers at a number of factories said they were contributing a half-day's pay to a fund for the victims.
A team of 100 RUC detectives was deployed in the investigation. As part of the investigation, 25 people were arrested in Belfast, including Gerry Adams
Gerry Adams
Gerry Adams is an Irish republican politician and Teachta Dála for the constituency of Louth. From 1983 to 1992 and from 1997 to 2011, he was an abstentionist Westminster Member of Parliament for Belfast West. He is the president of Sinn Féin, the second largest political party in Northern...
. Two prosecutions followed. One Belfast man was charged with the twelve murders but was acquitted. He was convicted of IRA membership but successfully appealed. In September 1981, another Belfast man was given twelve life sentences for the manslaughter of those who died.
The then Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
Secretary of State for Northern Ireland
The Secretary of State for Northern Ireland, informally the Northern Ireland Secretary, is the principal secretary of state in the government of the United Kingdom with responsibilities for Northern Ireland. The Secretary of State is a Minister of the Crown who is accountable to the Parliament of...
, Roy Mason
Roy Mason
Roy Mason, Baron Mason of Barnsley, PC is a British Labour politician and former Cabinet minister.He was born in Royston, and grew up in Carlton, Barnsley in South Yorkshire...
, who was criticized by loyalists
Ulster loyalism
Ulster loyalism is an ideology that is opposed to a united Ireland. It can mean either support for upholding Northern Ireland's status as a constituent part of the United Kingdom , support for Northern Ireland independence, or support for loyalist paramilitaries...
for his complacent attitude to the attack, claimed that the explosion was "an act of criminal irresponsibility" performed "by remnants of IRA gangs". He also claimed that the IRA was on the decline.
In 2002, the Parliament of the United Kingdom
Parliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
considered starting a new inquiry but the proposal was not acted upon.