April 1979: The IRA's Largest Bomb
April 1979 saw the release of the Australian film "Mad Max", starring Mel Gibson and directed by George Miller. Taking place in a dystopian Australia in the near future, It got me thinking. If, at the time, you had asked the people of Northern Ireland what the country would look like in the future, do you think they would have envisaged a landscape scarred by war and violence? Or one that looks as it does today?
Political Developments in April 1979
April began with some further developments on the DeLorean operation. A letter was sent from G. Quigley to J. Lyttle on the 6th. The letter went as follows;
Mr Lyttle,
Thank you for your minute of 4 April 1979 on the follow-up to points which I recorded on 19 February following a brief discussion with Mr Henderson of NIDA.
I entirely agree that we must accept the professional advice we have received about the respective merits of Automotive Industries and Automotive News.
I very much agree with your line on a possible harmonisation of our advertising plans and those of Mr De Lorean. As I see it, Mr De Lorean has the nub of an idea - namely that he and the Department might proceed in such a way later this year as to secure some mutual reinforcement for their respective efforts. We have an obligation to consider seriously whether this idea can be developed in a way which is mutually satisfactory and is certainly not detrimental to our objectives. One of the points we would obviously be watching is that we do not become so closely identified with the De Lorean product before it has proved itself fully that we lose out badly if that product itself does poorly in the marketplace. We have, of course, no reason whatsoever to believe that it will - indeed, quite the contrary. We must, therefore, be careful not to go to the other extreme and demonstrate a lack of confidence or an apprehension, which in themselves prove self-fulfilling. In other words, this is clearly tricky territory, but there is probably a careful course to be steered, which all concerned would recognise as being to their mutual advantage. As you suggest, the next step seems to be further exploration, the results of which we can then study. Meanwhile, my letter to Mr De Lorean is in effect a "holding" reply.
At the tail end of April, we had further developments on the upcoming general election, with confirmation of all nominations. A memorandum from the 24th by Alan Huckle adds some additional context.
1979 GENERAL ELECTION
CONFIDENTIAL
With all nominations now in, there is a record list of 64 candidates for the general election in NI - details are attached. Although a fuller analysis will be produced later this week, it might nevertheless be useful to highlight the main points of interest immediately.
2. Essentially, the main battle lines were drawn up as far back as mid-1978 when the prospect of an autumn general election was almost certain, and despite attempts by Baird (UUUP), Paisley (DUP) and others to achieve some sort of electoral agreement, particularly in the marginal seats, the parties have conformed fairly well to their pronounced intentions. Only the Alliance Party are fielding a full team of 12 candidates, and except for Arthur Barr in Londonderry, these had all been chosen by the summer of 1978. The UUP had originally intended to fight all 12 seats, and as early as May 1978, their line-up was almost clear, though they had to accommodate the resignations of Carson in N. Belfast, Kilfedder in N. Down, Bell in W.Belfast and Harry West's adoption for the EEC. The only major concession to Unionist unity was the subsequent withdrawal of Edward Turner from the fight in mid-Ulster in April 1979 to leave the field clear for John Dunlop (UUUP). The SDLP had nominated their 9 candidates by October 1978. They decided not to fight E.Belfast and N.Down where there was little hope of a respectable showing, but their bete-noire was Fermanagh/S. Tyrone, where Austin Currie, in a surprise move, is now standing as an "independent SDLP" candidate. The intentions of the DUP and UUUP were always somewhat clouded by the party manoeuvrings, but they are fighting 5 seats and 2 seats, respectively (with probably Cecil Harvey’s withdrawal from S.Down being the most significant factor in the election). The main DUP threat against the UUP lies probably in E. Belfast. The Republican Clubs promised originally to field 6 candidates and have gone one better, and the IIP are testing their chances for the first time with 4 candidates (although they too had originally promised to fight 6 seats). The NILP are fielding 4 candidates, if one includes Jeff Dudgeon as the Labour Integrationist, and UPNI 3. Bob Kidd of the newly formed United Labour Party (Paddy Devlin's brainchild) is standing in S.Antrim where he is a Newtownabbey councillor.
3. A quick rundown of the seats shows that the main interest will centre around the Belfast constituencies, particularly East, North and South, and Fermanagh/S. Tyrone. Mid-Ulster and S.Down would have been close, but the withdrawal of Turner and Harvey, respectively have probably guaranteed the return of the sitting MPs.
4. In N. Antrim, Paisley is secure with his 72.6% majority, although, on this occasion, he will be facing a UUP challenge from Jeremy Burchill, chairman of the Young Unionists. For the first time, the IIP (John Turnly) will be challenging the SDLP. In S. Antrim, Molyneaux again can rest at ease with his 71.5% majority, particularly as the moderate and anti-Unionist vote is split between the Alliance Party, Republican Clubs and the SDLP. In Armagh, Harold McCusker is probably safe with his 60% majority, although, on this occasion, he faces a challenge from the DUP. On the other hand, the moderate and anti-Unionist vote is split between the SDLP, Alliance and the Republican Clubs, and this will probably ensure McCusker’s re-election. It is unlikely that his vote in favour of the Labour Government during the no-confidence motion will affect McCusker’s local standing; both his constituency association and Jim Molyneaux gave him a clean bill of health.
5, In E. Belfast, Craig is under challenge from Alliance and the DUP; his position, however, would have been much more tenuous had Ernest Baird (UUUP) continued to stand for the seat. Oliver Napier himself was sanguine about his chances of being elected but thought that he could obtain about 16-17,000 votes. N. Belfast is probably the most wide-open constituency and has certainly attracted the most candidates. In October 1974, John Carson gained 62% of the vote against the 37.4% of his challengers. On this occasion, Cecil Walker is less well known even in the area and is facing a challenge from a well-known DUP candidate, Johnny McQuade, who can always count on a popular vote in Loyalist areas. The moderate and anti-Unionist challenge however is fragmented between the SDLP, Alliance, Republican Clubs, UPNI and the Northern Ireland Labour Party.
6 . In S. Belfast, Robert Bradford faces an Alliance challenge from Basil Glass, but although Glass may increase his vote, it seems unlikely that the outcome will be radically different from that in October 1974. In W. Belfast, Gerry Fitt is probably secure in his seat given the fact that the Unionist vote is split between Tom Passmore of the UUP and Billy Dickson of the DUP. It is possible, however, that the Republican Clubs will increase their vote and that this, combined with the new Alliance challenge, may have an effect on Fitt's majority.
7. In N. Down, Jim Kilfedder is probably safe with his personal popularity vote, but on this occasion, he faces a UUP challenge from Clifford Smyth because of his final resignation from the party. In S. Down, Enoch Powell has probably been saved by the withdrawal of Cecil Harvey's candidature. Powell's slender majority in October 1974 might not have survived the combined challenge of Harvey and McGrady, but with Harvey's votes assured, he is likely to be returned since the anti-Unionist challenge is fragmented between the SDLP, Republican Clubs and the IIP, and by a new challenge from the Alliance Party.
8. In Fermanagh S. Tyrone, the contest will be an interesting one. Ernest Baird, who changed his constituency in the hope that he would be given a clear run by the UUP, faces a challenge from Raymond Ferguson, a local councillor and Harry West's nephew. Although Baird has always had support in the area, there may be some basis for the view that the UUUP vote is declining in transferring to the UUP. Maguire now faces the challenge of Austin Currie who in a surprise move defied the Party’s decision not to field a candidate and has announced himself as an Independent SDLP contender. The Alliance Party are also fighting the constituency for the first time.
9. Londonderry would appear to be a straight run for William Ross since the SDLP challenge is weakened by the contention of the Republican Clubs and (newly) of the Alliance Party and the IIP. In mid-Ulster, the withdrawal of Edward Turner on
15 April leaves the field clear for John Dunlop particularly as the moderate and anti-Unionist vote is once again divided between the SDLP, Republican Clubs and also Alliance and the IIP.10. Provisional Sinn Fein announced that they would be boycotting the election and they urged their followers to do the same but their call has not been given particular publicity. The Independent Unionist group was to have fielded candidates in N.Belfast (David Overend) and W.Belfast (Hugh Smyth) but they withdrew from the field on 22 April. Their UVF-backed proposals will therefore not be put to an electoral test, nor will the independence proposals of the UDA’s NUPRG.
Shootings & Beatings in April 1979
April 5th.
British soldiers Anthony Dykes (25) and Anthony Thornett (20) were shot dead by the IRA while standing outside Andersonstown joint RUC and British Army base in Belfast.
April 11th.
British soldiers Christopher Shanley (21) and Stephen Rumble (19) died as a result of a gun attack carried out by the IRA in Ballymurphy, Belfast.
An INLA unit opened fire on an RUC mobile patrol at the corner of Spinner Street and Lower Falls, Belfast, injuring an RUC officer.
April 13th.
Off-duty UDR soldier Thomas Armstrong (63) was shot dead by the IRA near his home in Tynan, County Armagh.
An INLA unit opened fire on a British Army foot patrol in the Whiterock area of Belfast.
April 16th.
Michael Cassidy (31), a Prison Officer, was shot dead by the IRA as he left a church in Clogher, County Tyrone, where his sister had just got married.
April 19th.
Agnes Wallace (40), a Prison Officer, was shot dead and three of her colleagues injured when the INLA carried out a gun and grenade attack outside Armagh women's prison.
British Army member Paul Rogers (37), was shot by an IRA sniper while on a British Army mobile patrol, Falls Road, Belfast.
April 22nd.
The body of Martin McConville (25), a Catholic civilian, was found in the Bann River, at Portadown, County Armagh. McConville had been abducted by the UDA one month earlier and had been beaten to death.
April 25th.
UDR soldier John Graham (55) was shot dead by an IRA sniper while driving a lorry in County Tyrone.
The UDA shot dead Provisional IRA volunteer William Carson (32) at his home on Rosevale Street, Belfast.
April 29th.
UDR soldier Samuel Gibson (52) was shot dead by an IRA sniper in Edendork, County Tyrone.
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Bombings in April 1979
April 9th.
An INLA commander claimed responsibility for a series of bomb attacks in Northern Ireland a fortnight previously, in an interview with a Dublin-based newspaper.
April 17th.
Four RUC officers, Paul Gray (25), Robert Lockhart (44), Richard Baird (28) and Noel Webb (30), were killed when the IRA exploded an estimated 1,000 pound van bomb at Bessbrook, County Armagh. This was believed to be the largest bomb used by the IRA to this date.
April 30th.
A UDR soldier narrowly escaped serious injury after a booby-trap INLA bomb exploded under his car at the junction of Linenhall Street and Bridge Street, Ballymena, County Antrim.
Thanks very much for reading. I hope you found it interesting and will come back on Tuesday!
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I’ve also recently released Tales of The Troubles: Volume 1. The Early Years - 1960s. Check it out. It would be a great addition to your library or a gift for someone for Christmas. Stay tuned for Volume 2, covering the 1970s.
If you’d like to let me know what you think of today’s instalment, please comment below.
Some recommended reading based on research for this instalment.
Lost Lives: The Stories of the Men, Women and Children Who Died as a Result of the Northern Ireland Troubles by David McKittrick, Chris Thornton, Seamus Kelters and Brian Feeney.
