August 1974: The Balcombe Street Gang
Sleeper Cells & "Official" Campaigns Against The British
August 1974 was a strange month. Both France and the USA performed nuclear tests at the Nevada Test Site and Mururoa Atoll respectively, whilst in Britain and Ireland, organisations like the IRA were sending “Sleeper Cells” to await instruction to start operations of their own.
Political Developments in August 1974
There weren’t many political developments in August 1974, however, things began with representatives of the SDLP meeting with representatives of the Loyalist paramilitary group the UDA.
As we headed towards the middle of August, a report on the Dublin bombings investigation was completed by the Irish Police, an Garda Síochána. The Garda Síochána carried out several further inquiries between 1974 and 1976 but nothing of consequence resulted.
It was also reported that August 1974 saw the Provisional IRA's Balcombe Street Gang being sent to London as "sleeper cells" awaiting instructions to start operations in London & surrounding areas like Surrey & Kent.
Shootings in August 1974
03/08/74 - IRA member Martin Skillen (21) was shot and killed by the British Army from an undercover observation post in Clonard, Belfast.
03/08/74 - Civilian Martha Lavery (67) was shot and killed by the British Army while in her home during a gun battle between the IRA and British Army, Jamaica Street, Ardoyne, Belfast.
07/08/74 - Patrick McElhone (24), a Catholic civilian, was shot dead by British Army soldiers, shortly after they had taken him from his home in Limehill, near Pomeroy, County Tyrone. McElhone's father witnessed the shooting and said his son was led to a field and shot in the back. At a coroner's inquest into the shooting held in January 2021, Judge Siobhan Keegan said Mr McElhone was an "innocent man shot in cold blood without warning when he was no threat to anyone".
08/08/74 - The UDA shot dead one of its volunteers, Terence Miskimmin (24), on Seaview Drive, Belfast in an internal dispute.
10/08/74 - As reported in our July 1974 instalment, the body of Patrick Kelly (33), a Nationalist councillor, was discovered in Lough Eyes, near Lisbellaw, County Fermanagh. Kelly had disappeared on 24 July 1974 after leaving Trillick, County Tyrone, to travel home.
14/08/74 - The UDA shot dead Catholic civilian Joseph McGuinness (13) on North Queen Street, Belfast.
14/08/74 - The British Army shot dead Paul Magorrian (21) while walking through St Malachy's estate, Castlewellan, County Down.
19/08/74 - The OIRA claimed responsibility for shooting two youths in a punishment shooting in the Bogside area of Derry. In response the Provisional IRA issued a warning that they wouldn't tolerate organisations not involved in an "official" campaign against the British Government carrying out such actions.
23/08/74 - The IRA shot dead undercover RUC officer Peter Flanagan (47) inside the Diamond Bar, George Street, Omagh, County Tyrone.
23/08/74 - The IRA shot dead former UDR soldier William Hutchinson (29), while engaged in traffic census, Cabragh, near Dungannon, County Tyrone.
26/08/74 - Patrolling British soldier Philip Drake (20) was killed by an IRA sniper in Drumbeg, Craigavon, County Armagh.
Bombings in August 1974
03/08/74 - Protestant civilian Charles McKnight (25) was killed by a booby trap bomb when he entered the cab of his employer's lorry, parked outside his house, Ballycraigy, Newtownabbey, County Antrim. it’s reported that the IRA were responsible. The reason for the killing is unknown.
13/08/74 - Two Royal Marines, Dennis Leach (24) and Michael Southern (19), were killed when the IRA detonated a remote-controlled bomb in their observation post at Drummuckavall, near Crossmaglen, County Armagh.
2708/74 - IRA volunteer Patrick McKeown (29) died when his bomb prematurely exploded in a house in Barcroft Park, Newry.
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Some recommended reading based on research for this instalment.
The Provisional IRA in England: The Bombing Campaign 1973-1997 by Gary McGladdery.
Fascinating series. Keep up the great work
Finding these fascinating reading Dan. I lived in London from 1974 onwards and as a Government Forensic Scientist was deemed a 'legitimate' target. On receipt of bomb threats with correct code word our evacuation point was where the Imax cinema now stands outside London's Waterloo Station. A good friend of mine also worked in the Northern Ireland office in Belfast. I recall those having an Irish accent in London at the time drew many a sideways glance. Also the removal of all rubbish bins from London railway stations and no large bags, boxes etc could be taken into most London pubs. It was an 'interesting' time.