Shankill Road bombing
Encyclopedia
The Shankill Road bombing (or Shankill bomb) was carried out by the Provisional Irish Republican Army
on 23 October 1993 and is one of the most notorious incidents of the Troubles
in Northern Ireland
. The Provisional IRA's intended target was a meeting of loyalist
paramilitary
leaders, which was to take place above Frizzell's Fish Shop. The IRA did not know that the meeting had been rescheduled. Shortly after two IRA operatives entered the shop with a time bomb, it exploded prematurely—one of the IRA members was killed along with a UDA
member and eight Protestant civilians.
The loyalist Shankill Road in Belfast
had been the location of several other bomb and gun attacks, including the Balmoral Furniture Company bombing and Bayardo Bar attack
in 1971 and 1975 respectively; but the 1993 bombing had the highest casualties and resulted in numerous revenge attacks by loyalists.
s, including senior members of the Ulster Defence Association
(UDA) and Johnny Adair
, one of the leaders of the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF), had been scheduled to take place in a flat above Frizzell's Fish Shop on the Shankill Road in the afternoon. The room above the shop had been used for meetings by the UDA's West Belfast commanders and by its Inner Council. For an unknown reason, the details were changed. Some sources claim that the location was moved, others suggest that it was rescheduled for another time or day. The room was also the office of the Loyalist Prisoners' Association (LPA), and on Saturday mornings it was normally crowded as that was when money was given to prisoners' families.
The Provisional IRA had discovered about the original time, location and date of the meeting, and saw an opportunity to remove several of its most senior enemies in one blow. According to Henry McDonald
and Jim Cusack the Ardoyne
PIRA had had a spy on the Shankill Road that day and he had seen Adair entering the shop, which the republicans already knew had the UDA offices in the upper rooms. A plan was quickly hatched to enter the shop with a bomb, set the timer, force out the customers at gunpoint and thus to blow up the building killing either the Inner Council of the UDA or the leadership of the UDA West Belfast brigade
(PIRA intelligence reports being unclear as to who was actually meeting in the upper rooms). To this end, Thomas Begley
and Sean Kelly, two relatively junior IRA operatives of the Belfast Brigade
, drove to the Shankill from Ardoyne
in a hijacked blue Ford Escort
which they parked in Berlin Street around the corner from Frizzell's. They entered the fish shop dressed as delivery men with a five-pound bomb hidden under a cover of cod
on a plastic tray. They intended to leave the time bomb in the shop, where it would detonate once they had made their getaway. It was shortly after 13.00 on a Saturday afternoon, therefore the shop was crowded with shoppers - mostly women and children. Whilst Kelly waited at the entrance, Begley made his way through the customers towards the counter, where the bomb detonated prematurely. The bomb had only an eleven-second fuse and Kelly maintained that they would have warned the customers as the fuse was activated, giving them this short time to escape. The IRA explained that the short fuse would have allowed just enough time to clear the downstairs shop but not enough for those upstairs to escape. Begley was blown to pieces and nine other people, including two young girls, the owner John Frizzell, his daughter Sharon McBride and UDA member Michael Morrison were killed in the explosion. The latter's common-law wife, Evelyn Baird and seven-year-old daughter, Michelle were also among the dead. Forensic evidence revealed that Begley had been holding the tray with the bomb over the refrigerated serving counter when it exploded.
The bomb had been designed to send the blast upwards which caused the old building to collapse into a pile of rubble. Heavy masonry was hurled outside into the busy street from the force of the explosion, striking passers-by. The upper structure came down upon the shoppers inside the shop, crushing many of the survivors under the rubble, where they remained until rescued some hours later by volunteers and emergency services. About 57 people were injured. At the scene during the rescue operation were several senior loyalists, including Adair and Billy McQuiston. The latter had been in a pub on the nearest corner to the fish shop when the bomb went off.
(RUC), stationed at the Tennent Street station off the Shankill, had tipped off Adair that the police had the office bugged. Michael Stone
and another UDA member said that Adair vowed to launch simultaneous "revenge attacks" on Catholics attending mass in Belfast. Adair denied the claims. The next day (Sunday), the security forces were sent to guard all Catholic churches in Belfast. A UDA member said that a carload of gunmen were sent to attack Holy Family Catholic Church on the Limestone Road, but had to abort the attack due to the high security presence.
Begley was given a well-attended republican
funeral in west Belfast. Gerry Adams
, president of Sinn Féin
, was criticised in British media and by loyalists for acting as a pallbearer at the funeral.
The UDA launched a number of "revenge attacks" for the bombing over the next week. It shot a Catholic delivery driver in Belfast after luring him to a bogus call just a few hours after the bombing. He died on 25 October. On 26 October, the UDA shot dead another two Catholic civilians and wounded five in an attack on the Council Depot at Kennedy Way, Belfast. On 30 October, UDA members shot dead eight civilians (six of whom were Catholics) in the Greysteel massacre
. This was claimed as a direct retaliation for the Shankill Road bombing.
Seán Kelly, the surviving IRA member, was badly wounded in the explosion, having lost his left eye and unable to move his left arm. Upon his release from hospital, however, he was arrested and convicted of nine counts of murder, each with a corresponding life sentence. In July 2000, he was released under the Belfast Agreement
.
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...
on 23 October 1993 and is one of the most notorious incidents of 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...
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...
. The Provisional IRA's intended target was a meeting of loyalist
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...
paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
leaders, which was to take place above Frizzell's Fish Shop. The IRA did not know that the meeting had been rescheduled. Shortly after two IRA operatives entered the shop with a time bomb, it exploded prematurely—one of the IRA members was killed along with a UDA
Ulster Defence Association
The Ulster Defence Association is the largest although not the deadliest loyalist paramilitary and vigilante group in Northern Ireland. It was formed in September 1971 and undertook a campaign of almost twenty-four years during "The Troubles"...
member and eight Protestant civilians.
The loyalist Shankill Road in 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...
had been the location of several other bomb and gun attacks, including the Balmoral Furniture Company bombing and Bayardo Bar attack
Bayardo Bar attack
The Bayardo Bar attack took place on 13 August 1975 in Belfast, Northern Ireland. A unit of the Provisional IRA Belfast Brigade, led by Brendan McFarlane, launched a bombing and shooting attack on the pub on Aberdeen Street , which was frequented by Ulster Volunteer Force members...
in 1971 and 1975 respectively; but the 1993 bombing had the highest casualties and resulted in numerous revenge attacks by loyalists.
The bombing
On 23 October 1993 a meeting of senior loyalistUlster 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...
s, including senior members of the Ulster Defence Association
Ulster Defence Association
The Ulster Defence Association is the largest although not the deadliest loyalist paramilitary and vigilante group in Northern Ireland. It was formed in September 1971 and undertook a campaign of almost twenty-four years during "The Troubles"...
(UDA) and Johnny Adair
Johnny Adair
Jonathan Adair, better known as Johnny "Mad Dog" Adair is the former leader of the "C Company", 2nd Battalion Shankill Road, West Belfast Brigade of the "Ulster Freedom Fighters" . This was a cover name used by the Ulster Defence Association , an Ulster loyalist paramilitary organisation...
, one of the leaders of the Ulster Freedom Fighters (UFF), had been scheduled to take place in a flat above Frizzell's Fish Shop on the Shankill Road in the afternoon. The room above the shop had been used for meetings by the UDA's West Belfast commanders and by its Inner Council. For an unknown reason, the details were changed. Some sources claim that the location was moved, others suggest that it was rescheduled for another time or day. The room was also the office of the Loyalist Prisoners' Association (LPA), and on Saturday mornings it was normally crowded as that was when money was given to prisoners' families.
The Provisional IRA had discovered about the original time, location and date of the meeting, and saw an opportunity to remove several of its most senior enemies in one blow. According to Henry McDonald
Henry McDonald (writer)
Henry McDonald is a writer and is the Irish editor for The Observer, the sister paper of The Guardian.McDonald has written extensively about The Troubles, its precedents, its consequences, its demographics, and such. He was born in the nationalist Markets area of Belfast and attended St. Malachy's...
and Jim Cusack the Ardoyne
Ardoyne
Ardoyne is an Irish nationalist, working class and mainly Catholic district in north Belfast, Northern Ireland. It gained notoriety due to the large number of incidents during "The Troubles". It is home to approximately 20,000 inhabitants...
PIRA had had a spy on the Shankill Road that day and he had seen Adair entering the shop, which the republicans already knew had the UDA offices in the upper rooms. A plan was quickly hatched to enter the shop with a bomb, set the timer, force out the customers at gunpoint and thus to blow up the building killing either the Inner Council of the UDA or the leadership of the UDA West Belfast brigade
UDA West Belfast Brigade
The UDA West Belfast Brigade is the section of the Northern Irish loyalist paramilitary group the Ulster Defence Association based in the western quarter of Belfast in the Greater Shankill area...
(PIRA intelligence reports being unclear as to who was actually meeting in the upper rooms). To this end, Thomas Begley
Thomas Begley
Thomas Begley , was a volunteer in the Belfast Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army...
and Sean Kelly, two relatively junior IRA operatives of the Belfast Brigade
Provisional IRA Belfast Brigade
The Belfast Brigade of the Provisional IRA was the largest of the organisation's command areas, based in the city of Belfast. Founded in 1969, along with the formation of the Provisional IRA, it was historically organised into three battalions; the First Battalion based in the...
, drove to the Shankill from Ardoyne
Ardoyne
Ardoyne is an Irish nationalist, working class and mainly Catholic district in north Belfast, Northern Ireland. It gained notoriety due to the large number of incidents during "The Troubles". It is home to approximately 20,000 inhabitants...
in a hijacked blue Ford Escort
Ford Escort
Ford Escort may refer to:* Ford Escort , a vehicle manufactured by Ford Motor Company's European division from 1968 through 2003* Ford Escort , a compact car that was manufactured by the Ford Motor Company for the North American market...
which they parked in Berlin Street around the corner from Frizzell's. They entered the fish shop dressed as delivery men with a five-pound bomb hidden under a cover of cod
Cod
Cod is the common name for genus Gadus, belonging to the family Gadidae, and is also used in the common name for various other fishes. Cod is a popular food with a mild flavor, low fat content and a dense, flaky white flesh. Cod livers are processed to make cod liver oil, an important source of...
on a plastic tray. They intended to leave the time bomb in the shop, where it would detonate once they had made their getaway. It was shortly after 13.00 on a Saturday afternoon, therefore the shop was crowded with shoppers - mostly women and children. Whilst Kelly waited at the entrance, Begley made his way through the customers towards the counter, where the bomb detonated prematurely. The bomb had only an eleven-second fuse and Kelly maintained that they would have warned the customers as the fuse was activated, giving them this short time to escape. The IRA explained that the short fuse would have allowed just enough time to clear the downstairs shop but not enough for those upstairs to escape. Begley was blown to pieces and nine other people, including two young girls, the owner John Frizzell, his daughter Sharon McBride and UDA member Michael Morrison were killed in the explosion. The latter's common-law wife, Evelyn Baird and seven-year-old daughter, Michelle were also among the dead. Forensic evidence revealed that Begley had been holding the tray with the bomb over the refrigerated serving counter when it exploded.
The bomb had been designed to send the blast upwards which caused the old building to collapse into a pile of rubble. Heavy masonry was hurled outside into the busy street from the force of the explosion, striking passers-by. The upper structure came down upon the shoppers inside the shop, crushing many of the survivors under the rubble, where they remained until rescued some hours later by volunteers and emergency services. About 57 people were injured. At the scene during the rescue operation were several senior loyalists, including Adair and Billy McQuiston. The latter had been in a pub on the nearest corner to the fish shop when the bomb went off.
Aftermath
There was intense anger and outrage on the Shankill in the wake of the bombing. Billy McQuiston told journalist Peter Taylor that "anybody on the Shankill Road that day from a Boy Scout to a granny, if you'd given them a gun they would have gone out and retaliated". Many Protestants saw the bombing as an indiscriminate attack on them. Adair was convinced that the bomb was meant for him. He said that an IRA "spotter" must have seen him entering the shop to collect a prison visiting pass. Furthermore, in the immediate aftermath of the attack a rumour circulated that Adair had been in the building at the time of the blast and had somehow walked out unharmed but in fact he had left by a back entrance earlier in the day. Indeed, according to McDonald and Cusack, the offices had stopped being used for important meetings by that point as a sympathiser within the Royal Ulster ConstabularyRoyal 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), stationed at the Tennent Street station off the Shankill, had tipped off Adair that the police had the office bugged. Michael Stone
Michael Stone (loyalist paramilitary)
Michael Stone is a Northern Irish loyalist who was a volunteer in the Ulster Defence Association . Stone was born in England but raised in the Braniel estate in East Belfast, Northern Ireland. Convicted of killing three people and injuring more than sixty in an attack on mourners at Milltown...
and another UDA member said that Adair vowed to launch simultaneous "revenge attacks" on Catholics attending mass in Belfast. Adair denied the claims. The next day (Sunday), the security forces were sent to guard all Catholic churches in Belfast. A UDA member said that a carload of gunmen were sent to attack Holy Family Catholic Church on the Limestone Road, but had to abort the attack due to the high security presence.
Begley was given a well-attended republican
Irish Republicanism
Irish republicanism is an ideology based on the belief that all of Ireland should be an independent republic.In 1801, under the Act of Union, the Kingdom of Great Britain and the Kingdom of Ireland merged to form the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
funeral in west Belfast. 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...
, president of Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin
Sinn Féin is a left wing, Irish republican political party in Ireland. The name is Irish for "ourselves" or "we ourselves", although it is frequently mistranslated as "ourselves alone". Originating in the Sinn Féin organisation founded in 1905 by Arthur Griffith, it took its current form in 1970...
, was criticised in British media and by loyalists for acting as a pallbearer at the funeral.
The UDA launched a number of "revenge attacks" for the bombing over the next week. It shot a Catholic delivery driver in Belfast after luring him to a bogus call just a few hours after the bombing. He died on 25 October. On 26 October, the UDA shot dead another two Catholic civilians and wounded five in an attack on the Council Depot at Kennedy Way, Belfast. On 30 October, UDA members shot dead eight civilians (six of whom were Catholics) in the Greysteel massacre
Greysteel massacre
The Greysteel massacre took place on the evening of 30 October 1993 in Greysteel, County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Three members of the Ulster Defence Association , a loyalist paramilitary group, attacked a crowded pub with firearms, killing eight civilians and wounding thirteen...
. This was claimed as a direct retaliation for the Shankill Road bombing.
Seán Kelly, the surviving IRA member, was badly wounded in the explosion, having lost his left eye and unable to move his left arm. Upon his release from hospital, however, he was arrested and convicted of nine counts of murder, each with a corresponding life sentence. In July 2000, he was released under the Belfast Agreement
Belfast Agreement
The Good Friday Agreement or Belfast Agreement , sometimes called the Stormont Agreement, was a major political development in the Northern Ireland peace process...
.