Ballygawley bus bombing
Encyclopedia
The Ballygawley bus bombing was an attack by the Provisional Irish Republican Army
(IRA) on a bus carrying British Army
soldiers in Northern Ireland
. It occurred in the early hours of 20 August 1988 in the townland
of Curr near Ballygawley, County Tyrone
.
from RAF Aldergrove
to a military base near Omagh
. After it passed Ballygawley, IRA members remotely detonated a 200lb roadside bomb
, killing eight soldiers and wounding the remaining 28. The explosion left a crater 6 ft deep and hurled wreckage at least 100 yards. The soldiers killed were: Jayson Burfitt (19), Richard Greener (21), Mark Norsworthy (18), Stephen Wilkinson (18), Jason Winter (19), Blair Bishop (19), Alexander Lewis (18) and Peter Bullock (21). This was the single biggest loss of life for the British Army since the Warrenpoint ambush
in 1979.
, then British Government's Northern Ireland Secretary
, said there was "some evidence" that the explosives used were part of a consignment from Libya
(see Provisional IRA arms importation
). He also stated that the possibility of reintroducing internment
was "under review". Libyan weaponry enabled the IRA to mount some of its biggest operations during its campaign. The Ballygawley bus bombing is generally believed to have been one of these attacks. Three members of the IRA in Tyrone who were ambushed and killed by the Special Air Service
on 30 August 1988, Gerard Harte, Martin Harte and Brian Mullin were identified by British intelligence as the perpetrators of the bombing.
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 a bus carrying British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
soldiers in 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...
. It occurred in the early hours of 20 August 1988 in the townland
Townland
A townland or bally is a small geographical division of land used in Ireland. The townland system is of Gaelic origin—most townlands are believed to pre-date the Norman invasion and most have names derived from the Irish language...
of Curr near Ballygawley, County Tyrone
County Tyrone
Historically Tyrone stretched as far north as Lough Foyle, and comprised part of modern day County Londonderry east of the River Foyle. The majority of County Londonderry was carved out of Tyrone between 1610-1620 when that land went to the Guilds of London to set up profit making schemes based on...
.
The attack
The unmarked bus had been transporting 36 soldiers of the The Light InfantryThe Light Infantry
The Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Light Division. It was formed on 10 July 1968 as a "large regiment" by the amalgamation of the four remaining light infantry regiments of the Light Infantry Brigade:...
from RAF Aldergrove
RAF Aldergrove
RAF Aldergrove was a Royal Air Force station situated northwest of Belfast. It adjoined Belfast International Airport, sometimes referred to simply as Aldergrove which is the name of the surrounding area...
to a military base near Omagh
Omagh
Omagh is the county town of County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. It is situated where the rivers Drumragh and Camowen meet to form the Strule. The town, which is the largest in the county, had a population of 19,910 at the 2001 Census. Omagh also contains the headquarters of Omagh District Council and...
. After it passed Ballygawley, IRA members remotely detonated a 200lb roadside bomb
Improvised explosive device
An improvised explosive device , also known as a roadside bomb, is a homemade bomb constructed and deployed in ways other than in conventional military action...
, killing eight soldiers and wounding the remaining 28. The explosion left a crater 6 ft deep and hurled wreckage at least 100 yards. The soldiers killed were: Jayson Burfitt (19), Richard Greener (21), Mark Norsworthy (18), Stephen Wilkinson (18), Jason Winter (19), Blair Bishop (19), Alexander Lewis (18) and Peter Bullock (21). This was the single biggest loss of life for the British Army since the Warrenpoint ambush
Warrenpoint ambush
The Warrenpoint ambush or the Warrenpoint massacre was a guerrilla assault by the Provisional Irish Republican Army on 27 August 1979. The IRA attacked a British Army convoy with two large bombs at Narrow Water Castle , Northern Ireland...
in 1979.
Aftermath
Shortly thereafter, the Provisional IRA issued a statement claiming responsibility. After the attack the British military decided to start ferrying their troops to and from East Tyrone by helicopter to stop any future attacks. Tom KingTom King, Baron King of Bridgwater
Thomas Jeremy King, Baron King of Bridgwater, CH, PC , is a British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Cabinet from 1983–92, and was the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Bridgwater in Somerset from 1970-2001...
, then British Government's Northern Ireland Secretary
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...
, said there was "some evidence" that the explosives used were part of a consignment from Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
(see Provisional IRA arms importation
Provisional IRA arms importation
The Provisional Irish Republican Army began importing large quantities of weapons and ammunition into the Republic of Ireland for use in Northern Ireland in the early 1970s...
). He also stated that the possibility of reintroducing internment
Operation Demetrius
Operation Demetrius began in Northern Ireland on the morning of Monday 9 August 1971. Operation Demetrius was launched by the British Army and Royal Ulster Constabulary and involved arresting and interning people accused of being paramilitary members...
was "under review". Libyan weaponry enabled the IRA to mount some of its biggest operations during its campaign. The Ballygawley bus bombing is generally believed to have been one of these attacks. Three members of the IRA in Tyrone who were ambushed and killed by the Special Air Service
Special Air Service
Special Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...
on 30 August 1988, Gerard Harte, Martin Harte and Brian Mullin were identified by British intelligence as the perpetrators of the bombing.
See also
- Timeline of Provisional Irish Republican Army actions
- Provisional IRA East Tyrone BrigadeProvisional IRA East Tyrone BrigadeThe East Tyrone Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army , also known as the Tyrone/Monaghan Brigade was one of the most active republican paramilitary groups in Northern Ireland during "the Troubles"...
- Attack on Ballygawley barracksAttack on Ballygawley barracksThe attack on Ballygawley RUC barracks was an attack carried out on 7 December 1985 by a Provisional Irish Republican Army group against a Royal Ulster Constabulary barracks at Ballygawley, County Tyrone...