December 1977: Christmas Ceasefire
December 1977 saw Ted Bundy escape from jail in Colorado. In the same month, an IRA Chief of Staff was heading in the opposite direction after being arrested in Dublin.
Political Developments in December 1977
There wasn’t a lot to report on, politically, in December 1977. It began with former IRA Chief of Staff Seamus Twomey being arrested in Dublin on the 3rd.
On the 22nd, The IRA announced that there would be a ceasefire at Christmas.
Shootings in December 1977
03/12/77 - An RUC car was ambushed by IRA gunmen firing automatic weapons at Clover Hill Bridge on Benburb Road near Moy, County Tyrone. A firefight ensued and the assailants fled across fields.
12/12/77 - Colin McNutt (18), a member of the INLA, was shot dead by undercover British Army soldiers at the junction of William Street and Little James Street, Derry. It was claimed that the soldiers were the SAS members.
14/12/77 - Paul Harman (27), a member of the British Army, was shot dead by the IRA while driving an unmarked car through the Turf Lodge area of Belfast.
15/12/77 - IRA gunmen attacked a UDR mobile border patrol with automatic weapons in Kinawley, County Fermanagh.
16/12/77 - The IRA attempted to assassinate a suspected informer. Two gunmen opened fire at Ford's Cross in Crossmaglen on the lorry driver who veered across the road and overturned. He was treated for cuts and bruises.
16/12/77 - The IRA failed to kill an off-duty RUC officer in Bangor as he drove home along Newtownards Road. The officer fired back and managed to survive the attack.
17/12/77 - The IRA fired on an RUC mobile patrol at Dromore, County Tyrone. Two officers suffered injuries.
17/12/77 - The INLA fired on a security forces mobile patrol as it drove through the Creggan area of Derry.
18/12/77 - James Clifford, a 53-year-old Protestant civilian, was shot outside his home on Belgrave Street in the Shankill area of Belfast. He died 12 days later on the 30th of December.
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Bombings in December 1977
01/12/77 - The Army disposed of two explosive devices left at Ellison's Wholesalers on Great Victoria Street, Belfast.
01/12/77 - Two parcels dropped outside the SKF Roller Bearings factory on Newtownards Road, Belfast exploded causing minor damage.
02/12/77 - Armed masked men forced their way into G&S Wholesalers on Gordon Street, Belfast and planted an explosive device before fleeing. The bomb exploded while the building was being evacuated and two employees suffered minor injuries.
02/12/77 - Barr's C&C on Agnes Street, off Shankill Road, was bombed.
03/12/77 - 23 people were injured, including seven RUC officers and a soldier, by an IRA bomb at a large Wellworth's store in Dungannon.
05-06/12/77 - Bomb blitz targeting industrial, commercial and transport infrastructure. Thirty devices exploded across the province.
08/12/77 - Firebomb attack on Co-op store on York Street, Belfast.
08/12/77 - Mortar bombs placed in shop doorways on Albertbridge Road, Belfast made safe by EOD.
08/12/77 - An Army patrol was attacked with grenades on the Antrim Road, Belfast. There were no injuries.
08/12/77 - An Army patrol was attacked with grenades on the Grosvenor Road, Belfast. There were no injuries.
08/12/77 - An Army patrol was attacked with grenades on Rosen Street, Belfast. There were no injuries.
08/12/77 - An Army patrol was attacked with grenades in the Moyard district of Belfast. There were no injuries.
08/12/77 - Twenty houses were badly damaged by an IRA bomb on Canterbury Street, Belfast.
08/12/77 - The IRA firebombed a Chinese restaurant in the Waterside area of Derry.
11/12/77 - The INLA carried out several attacks in Belfast using newly acquired Soviet model hand grenades. The first grenade was thrown at British soldiers in sangar at Roden Street, two hours later soldiers came under attack on the Antrim Road, and then a third grenade was lobbed at a passing patrol at the junction of Cullingtree Road and Albert Street.
13/12/77 - There were multiple IRA bombings across Belfast targeting commercial premises. Two soldiers were injured when two gas cylinders planted in Jackson's Sport on Bedford Street exploded.
13/12/77 - There was an attempted assassination of a part-time 51-year-old UDR soldier at his farm in Ballymena, County Antrim. A bomb exploded beneath his tractor causing serious injuries and a leg was amputated in the hospital.
14/12/77 - The INLA claimed responsibility for a blast bomb attack on Rosemount RUC station, Derry. Damage was minimal, and there were no reported injuries.
14/12/77 - Two RUC officers were injured by an IRA bomb planted outside a florist on Lisburn Road, Belfast.
14/12/77 - Two bombs exploded in Derry, damaging McDowell's electrical shop and Monaghan's furniture store.
15/12/77 - The INLA carried out another blast bomb attack on Rosemount RUC station, Derry. Damage was minimal and there were no reported injuries.
16/12/77 - The INLA carried out a bomb attack against the British Army base at Strand Road, Derry.
20/12/77 - An RUCR officer was maimed by an IRA booby-trap device planted beneath his car on Ashley Avenue, Belfast.
21/12/77 - Five hotels across Northern Ireland were damaged by IRA firebombs.
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Some recommended reading based on research for this instalment.
Wasted Years, Wasted Lives Volume 1: The British Army in Northern Ireland 1975–77 by Ken Wharton.