The gathering of so many men at the same place after such an attack was another factor in the failure to escape for most of the attacking force. for justice. Relatives for Justice, February 2012). Picture by Brian Little/PA Wire. The need for new and acceptable policy in Northern Ireland: hearing before the Committee on International Relations, House of Representatives, One Hundred Sixth Congress, first session, 22 April 1999, Volumen 4, 1997 nationalist riots in Northern Ireland, Chronology of Provisional Irish Republican Army actions (19901999), Cousin of bomb suspect was top provo; But gun victim denies being a terrorist, Explosions raise fears of IRA bomb campaign, CAIN Listing of Programmes for the Year: 1997 ITV news, 27 March 1997, Blasts light fuse to fears of IRA bomb campaign, CAIN Listing of Programmes for the Year: 1997 ITV news, 28 March 1997, "Michelle O'Neill speaks her mind at tribute to slain IRA gunmen", "Man jailed for Tyrone police station bombing", Militants Angry About Police's Defense Of Protestant March, "Northern Ireland Policy Board, 6 September 2006", "Norman Devlin property consultants & surveyors", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=1997_Coalisland_attack&oldid=1118195814, This page was last edited on 25 October 2022, at 17:42. arrest operation rather than set the men up to be executed. The IFA is investigating video footage which appears to show some members of a Coalisland soccer team chanting pro-IRA slogans on their bus after winning a competition. Under the light of army flares and a hail of automatic fire, the others tried to flee. The 1992 Coalisland riots were a series of clashes on 12 and 17 May 1992 between local nationalist civilians and British Army soldiers (of the Third Battalion of the Parachute Regiment [1] and the King's Own Scottish Borderers) in the town of Coalisland, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Turning to the defence case, the judge said Campbell claimed he had gone to town that evening to get a video, however he did not see any running men, nor Doris getting shot, although he was aware of an explosion and of shots being fired. We use your sign-up to provide content in the ways you've consented to and improve our understanding of you. In the two years before the Loughgall ambush the IRA killed seven people in East Tyrone and North Armagh, and eleven in the two years following the ambush. Daily bus services operated by Ulsterbus go through the town. [5] British intelligence identified them as the perpetrators of the Ballygawley bus bombing, which killed eight British soldiers. IRA members Peter Clancy, Kevin Barry ODonnell, Sen OFarrell, and Patrick Vincent were killed, while two others escaped. Judge McFarland said it was the prosecution case, a circumstantial case, that Campbell was this second man, and that he was the bomber, or assisting the actual bomber, Doris. Outside, two men stood in the rear of a stolen truck, emptying a belt of ammunition from a heavy machine gun into the towns fortified police station. The Irish FA said in a statement: "The Mid Ulster Football League referred a complaint to the Irish Football Associations Disciplinary Committee in relation to the conduct of Coalisland Athletic FC following their appearance in the fonaCAB Junior Cup Final on Monday 2 May. [21], On 5 July 1997, on the eve of the 1997 nationalist riots in Northern Ireland, the British Army/RUC base was the scene of another attack, when an IRA volunteer engaged an armoured RUC vehicle with gunfire beside the barracks. Murderers made 3 holes in hedge to make firing positions. Republican News, the weekly Sinn Fein-IRA newspaper, said the gunmen had removed the ammo belt from the machine gun and were dismantling it when they came under fire. The IRA said in a statement that one active service unit, possibly four men, escaped unharmed. Receive today's headlines directly to your inbox every morning and evening, with our free daily newsletter. . October 2011 has reinforced the families view that the Volunteers deaths were Ryan was the same man who, according to Irish journalist and author Ed Moloney, had led an attack on Derryard checkpoint on the orders of IRA Army Council member 'Slab' Murphy two years earlier. 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File photo dated 27/03/97 of a cordon around Coalisland RUC station. Golden Brown The Stranglers: Iconic Songs & the story behind them. But sympathy for the IRA in the area is as strong as ever, reinforced by the image of martyrdom. Provisional IRA attack on British army patrol near the village of Cappagh, County Tyrone: Resulted in: Parachute Regiment patrols in Northern Ireland cancelled before official tour's end; Coffin carried along, piper in lead MS Gerry Adams, Provisional Sinn Fein MP for Belfast West, carrying coffin on one side LMS Police station PAN to funeral procession going past MS Masked IRA men. COALISLAND, Northern Ireland The bars were crackling with Sunday night tipplers out for a pint and a smoke after Mass when the familiar rumble of gunfire sent people ducking. mens killings was opened in 2002, a full inquest has not taken place. fifty skinheads appeared from nowhere, many of them wearing Chelsea and Rangers football scarves and covered in Loyalist and swastika tattoos. A campaign for its restoration is underway. The dearth of official information about the incident provides fertile ground for inflammatory gossip and rising anger. Also revealed in the report is information The IRA unit was intercepted by the SAS[9] at the car park of St Patricks Roman Catholic church in Clonoe. [8] The grenade was thrown or fired[9] by two unidentified men. The same document states that British Who killed them? The Third Brigade's commander, Brigadier Tom Longland,[11] was replaced by Brigadier Jim Dutton. If theres nobody attacking it, if its not painted with paint bombs, if its not burned by petrol, then it looks as though its acceptable.. The DUPs Keith Buchanan said it significantly tarnishes the clubs achievement. that night and who was involved in the killings, as utterly implausible. An IRA member drove a digger with a bomb in its bucket through the perimeter fence, while the rest of the unit arrived in a van and fired on the building. [17] While Francis Molloy, a local Sinn Fin councillor, walked out of the church in protest, leading Sinn Fin politicians Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness remained in their seats. The vehicle used by the IRA volunteers can be seen on the far right of the image, Justice Treacy described the evidence of Soldier A, the soldier in charge of the SAS operation that night and who was involved in the killings, as utterly implausible. Judge McFarland said the background to the incident involved 'Soldier A' who along with several other soldiers in civilian clothing were in Coalisland that evening. rounds in the shoot-to-kill operation. The 1992 Coalisland riots were a series of clashes on 12 and 17 May 1992 between local Irish nationalist civilians and British Army soldiers (of the Third Battalion of the Parachute Regiment [1] and the King's Own Scottish Borderers) in the town of Coalisland, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. The escape route was chosen at random, with the machine-gun in full sight and the support vehicle flashing its hazard lights. When the IRA men returned from firing at the police barracks, a potent array of army firepower was waiting near St. Patricks Church, where other IRA men were waiting to unload weapons and disperse in cars. To locals it seemed clear that the armys elite Special Air Service had notched another ambush. [14], Three minutes after the blast, hundreds of angry residents gathered at the scene and confronted the undercover soldiers. The unit was trying to dump the truck and escape in cars. Justice Treacy ruled that the wounding of The footage was captured on board the team. Five were bound over. [4] British intelligence identified them as the perpetrators of the Ballygawley bus bombing, which killed eight British soldiers. . Whilst making their escape they drove past the home of Tony Doris, an IRA man who had been killed by the British Army the previous year, where they stopped to fire into the air, shouting: "Up the 'RA, that's for Tony Doris!". You can see from here their tower of cameras at the barracks, said Jim O'Donnell. A video circulating of members of Coalisland Athletic FC appearing to sing pro-IRA lyrics on a team bus has been reported to the IFA for review by the Mid Ulster Football League. The Craic Theatre and Arts Centre is a performing arts venue built on the site of an old weaving factory. Sign Up, The clubs in our local area in province-wide competitions are doing absolutely fantastic and this is something that all could certainly do without after a fine win by Coalisland, who we have applauded and congratulated for their excellent achievement in lifting the top junior trophy for the first time., The IFA said: We are aware of the footage which has appeared on social media and the matter will be investigated accordingly.. The families maintain that with such Over 50 shots were fired by the unit. [33] Maurice McHugh, the presiding magistrate, averred that the soldiers were "not entirely innocent", while Sinn Fin sources dubbed the ruling "a farce". ambush. [11] Nineteen-year-old Gareth Doris was shot in the stomach and fell to the ground. The IRA claims to be fighting a war. Although the inquest into the IRA VOLUNTEERS OF COALISLAND & CLONOE 1921-1992 PART ONE 26,158 views Apr 27, 2011 75 Dislike Share Save antiscrappydoo 723 subscribers the story of IRA volunteers from Coalisland & Clonoe. A ruling by the Belfast High Court in The reports investigators quote from In the late 17th century coal deposits were discovered in East Tyrone. RM2D3M7J6 - Senior Republican Brian Keenan, who was once reported to have been appointed chief of staff of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) in 1998, speaks at an Irish Republican rally to commemorate the 87th anniversary of the 1916 Easter Rising in Coalisland, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland, April 19, 2003. A local Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) unit was ambushed by the Special Air Service and 14 Intelligence Company at a graveyard after launching a heavy machine gun attack on the Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) base in Coalisland. The second man got into a white car, which drove off , with the soldier firing at both the suspect and the car. The prosecutor acknowledged that Campbell would have been released by that time under the provisions of the Good Friday Agreement, but argued that that was a decision for the parole commission, not the court. [16] Martin McGuinness described the shooting as "murderous", while independent councillor Jim Canning said that more than a dozen soldiers "were threatening to shoot anybody who moved [] while a young man lay shot on the ground". A local IRA source pointed out a number of flaws in the operation that led to the deaths of the volunteers: During the funeral services for ODonnell and OFarrell in Coalisland, the parish priest criticised the security forces for what happened at Clonoe church, which led to the deaths of the four men. MS Four IRA men by coffin planned an attack on Coalisland RUC barracks on the night of Sunday 16 February handwritten intelligence documents dated 15 February (the day before the On 16 February 1992, an IRA unit attacked the Royal Ulster Constabulary security base in the village of Coalisland in County Tyrone, and was ambushed shortly afterwards by the Special Air Service in the grounds of a church in the village of Clonoe whilst attempting to make its escape, resulting in several IRA fatalities. Great to see more local sporting success. Coalisland Athletic Football Club has been fined 250 after video footage emerged of players singing a song which contains lyrics supporting the IRA. Definitely his murder will motivate us in the same way that the deaths at Loughgall affected Barry. [13] While Francis Molloy, a local Sinn Fin councillor, walked out of the church in protest, leading republicans Gerry Adams and Martin McGuinness remained in their seats. They hadnt expected to be fired on.. In total, 14 stories have been published about Coalisland which Ground News has aggregated in the past 3 months. [8], The IRA's East Tyrone Brigade lost 53 members killed by the British Forces during the Troubles the highest of any "Brigade area". This field is required in-depth intelligence it was easier for the British Army and RUC to mount an Patrick Vincent (20 years of age), the driver of the stolen lorry, was shot dead with five bullets whilst still in its cab. [19], Fresh clashes between local residents and soldiers were reported at Coalisland on 6 March 1994, a few months before the first IRA ceasefire. prior to the attack.. ambush) that name two of the dead Volunteers. The IRA will always be there as long as you have armed Englishmen in our streets.. The RUC officer, William Logan (aged 23), who was driving the police patrol vehicle was mortally wounded and died the following day, he was the first RUC officer killed by the brigade. Please note opening hours are subject to ongoing review and may change at short notice. Picture by Brian Little/PA Wire. [3] In February 1992, four IRA volunteers were killed in a gun battle with the SAS during their escape after a machine gun attack on the RUC/British Army barracks there. [1] McKeever was awarded 75,000 in damages in 2012 by Mr Justice Treacy of Northern Irelands High Court. Those two men and a third are awaiting trial. Impunity, was commissioned by the families of the dead men. Police said they died in a gun battle after trying to escape. Organise, control, distribute, and measure all of your digital content. The priest, Father MacLarnon, then appealed to republicans to replace the politics of confrontation with the politics of cooperation. O'Farrell had been in police custody half a dozen times. They had mounted a heavy DShK machine-gun on the back of the lorry. [1] Doris was later convicted for involvement in the bombing and sentenced to ten years in jail, before being released in 2000 under the terms of the Good Friday Agreement. CS Face of IRA man in mask [19], The last patrol took place on 27 June, when two paratroopers drowned while crossing the River Blackwater. At least two IRA men got away from the scene, but the four named above were killed. However, Judge McFarland said "the story has all the appearances of one concocted to fit the prosecution case against him. [28][29] The same day, there were further clashes with local residents, this time in the town of Cookstown. hands.. The British Army killed a total of eight people, seven of whom were Provisional Irish Republican Army members and one a Catholic civilian,[6] and the IRA in turn killed five British soldiers, three Royal Ulster Constabulary policemen, one ex-Ulster Defence Regiment soldier, and two Catholic civilians, all in separate incidents. From 1969 to 2001, a total of 20 people were shot in or near Coalisland during the Troubles. [15] The paratroopers claim that a "member of the growing crowd" attempted to fire the stolen machine gun at them, but the weapon jammed. Car hit x20; shots from 2 AK-47 rifles. The information obtained by Relatives for Who knows what they can see and hear?. One soldier of the Parachute Regiment, Alistair Hodgson,[3][4][5] lost both legs as a result. [1] Mr Justice Treacy of Northern Ireland's High Court awarded McKeever, the IRA getaway driver, 75,000 in damages in 2011. All three were killed, and their car was incinerated. In their introduction, Relatives for Specially trained units of the British army, led by the counterterrorist SAS, have refined a tactic of staging ambush-style operations reliant on advance information of IRA plans gleaned from informers, phone-tapping and detailed surveillance. Niall O'Donnell, 17, said he is proud of his brother and the three others who died. [17], Gareth Doris was admitted to South Tyrone Hospital in Dungannon,[9] where he was arrested after undergoing surgery. [16] Another four civilians suffered minor injuries. O'Donnell and Clancy were cut down a few yards from the truck. This was the last time that IRA members were killed by the SAS in Northern Ireland,[14] although growing tension between local nationalists and the British military led to an open confrontation with soldiers of the Parachute Regiment in Coalisland three months later. The two IRA activists were released, with unexpected swiftness, after a week. Speaking at the launch of the Relatives for 6. LMS Coffin carried along, piper in lead Were an amateur league who try to run the league to the highest standards we possibly can and this incident on Irish Junior Cup day yesterday is with the IFAs disciplinary department for them to consider. Your email address will not be published. Campbell will be sentenced on February 26 next following the presentation of pre-sentence reports. Moloney, who wrote A Secret History of the IRA, reported that the IRA East Tyrone Brigade lost 53 members during the Troubles the highest of any Brigade area. [7] Of these, 28 were killed between 1987 and 1992. Refusing bail to father of four Paul Campbell, The Recorder, Judge David McFarland told him that a prison sentence was inevitable and that there was "no reason why he should not start serving it now". In all, the British soldiers fired 514 rounds in the shoot-to-kill operation. Communist League candidate says: "Include Sinn Fin in talks now" by Marcella Fitzgerald. [10], The deployment of the paratroopers, which began in April[1][11] had already been criticised by republican activist and former Member of Parliament Bernadette Devlin McAliskey, who denounced beatings, shootings and damages to property reportedly carried out by the troops.