1976 Step Inn pub bombing
The Step Inn pub bombing was a car bomb attack carried out by the Ulster Volunteer Force, an Ulster loyalist paramilitary group, including members of the so-called Glenanne gang.[1] The attack occurred outside the Step Inn Pub in Keady, County Armagh, when the pub was packed with people.
| Step Inn bombing | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Troubles | |
| Location | Keady |
| Date | 16 August 1976 |
Attack type | Car bomb |
| Deaths | 2 civilians |
| Injured | 20 |
| Perpetrator | Ulster Volunteer Force |
Bombing
Catholic civilians Elizabeth McDonald and Gerard McGleenon were killed [2] and about 15 - 20 were injured. Ten days before the bombing, the RUC asked the British Army to put James Mitchell's farmhouse (a farmhouse used by the Glenanne gang) under surveillance because they had intelligence that a bomb was being stored there. According to John Weir, the bomb was to be detonated at Renaghan's Bar across the border in Clontibret, County Monaghan. On 15 August, Weir scouted the route to the pub but was stopped by Gardaí, who told him they were mounting extra security due to a warning from the RUC. Weir told the rest of the gang and they decided to attack Keady instead. The British Army surveillance operation was ended and the bomb attack went ahead.
Investigation
Serving police officers later admitted involvement in the attack. Senior policemen knew about the planned attack but failed to prevent the bombing and covered up their knowledge during the subsequent police investigation. The families of Elizabeth McDonald and Gerard McGleenan, who were killed in the attack, are being supported in their inquiries by the Pat Finucane Centre while the Historical Enquiries Team (HET) investigations discovered that RUC Special Branch received reliable intelligence that UVF members had a bomb ready for use in County Armagh 10 days before the attack.[3] They also reveal that the RUC failed to make any arrests despite knowing the names of several of those involved in the bombing – among them RUC officers, who were not questioned.
References
- "Lethal Allies: how two families fought for the truth". Retrieved 8 August 2018.
- Sutton, Malcolm. "CAIN: Sutton Index of Deaths". cain.ulst.ac.uk. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
- Sullivan, Niall O. "Six unresolved Troubles killings claiming British State collusion | The Irish Post". The Irish Post. Retrieved 8 August 2018.
