2010 Newry car bombing
Encyclopedia
The Newry Car Bombing occurred on the night of 22 February 2010. A car bomb exploded outside a courthouse in Newry
, Northern Ireland
. The car bomb damaged the courthouse and other buildings in the area. There were no fatalities or injuries.
According to the BBC, it is thought that this was the first "large car bomb" to have exploded in Northern Ireland since the 2000 bombing of the Stewartstown police station. Other car bombs have failed to explode, or have only partially exploded.
The bombing is thought to have been an attempt to undo the 2010 Hillsborough Castle Agreement
, although the fact that it came two weeks after the Agreement was signed is thought to reflect the militant's limited operational capacity.
According to Fachtna Murphy
, Commissioner of An Garda Síochána, this was "the first bomb that exploded in the North in 10 or 11 years.”
. The large explosion caused "traffic chaos" across the city.
was blamed for the bombing in Newry but on 27 May a 32 year old man was arrested for the bombing. A day before that a 51 year old man appeared in the same court charged with the car bombing.
The Newry car bombing is taken as evidence that "hardline Republicans" continue to have the ability to carry out terror attacks in Northern Ireland, although they no longer have the operational strength to do so in Britain itself. The Newry car bombing was one of several cross-border attacks into Northern Ireland in 2009-10. Others included a car bombing of the Northern Ireland Policing Board
. There are fears that the terrorists will be able to use these "successful" bombings to recruit.
The operational strength of dissident republican groups as demonstrated by this bombing continues to concern Irish security forces as of September 2010. According to Garda
Commissioner Fachtna Murphy, "A bomb exploded in Newry some months ago and that's the first bomb that exploded in the North since Omagh. That's significant in itself. It's significant in that it tells us they're endeavouring to improve their capability all the time."
Politically, the attack was alleged by the Belfast Telegraph to have led some loyalists "to believe the older leadership called it wrong — that they decommissioned far too soon."
Writing in the Boston Globe, Kevin Cullen cited the Newry court bombing as evidence not only of the continued existence of an "irredentist rump", but of the continuation of a social situation in which the two groups are still "bitterly divided" and "deeply segregated."
Newry
Newry is a city in Northern Ireland. The River Clanrye, which runs through the city, formed the historic border between County Armagh and County Down. It is from Belfast and from Dublin. Newry had a population of 27,433 at the 2001 Census, while Newry and Mourne Council Area had a population...
, 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 car bomb damaged the courthouse and other buildings in the area. There were no fatalities or injuries.
The bombing
The incident happened late at night. Seventeen minutes before the bomb exploded a telephone warning was received saying that a car bomb was somewhere in the centre of Newry and that it would go off in half an hour. The police removed people from their homes and the centre of the town. The car was a Mazda 6 loaded with 115 kg of explosives. The car exploded next to the gates of a courthouse. The bomb was felt and heard from two miles away. The bomb blast damaged the courthouse and other buildings in the area. A 170 year old church had its windows blown out; three people were inside the church when the bomb exploded, but they were uninjured. The bombers phoned in a warning that police should clear the area because a bomb would go off in 30 minutes, in fact it went off in 17 minutes. Because of the size of the bomb, the police termed it a "sheer miracle" that no one was injured.According to the BBC, it is thought that this was the first "large car bomb" to have exploded in Northern Ireland since the 2000 bombing of the Stewartstown police station. Other car bombs have failed to explode, or have only partially exploded.
The bombing is thought to have been an attempt to undo the 2010 Hillsborough Castle Agreement
Hillsborough Castle Agreement
The Hillsborough Castle Agreement was an agreement reached in Northern Ireland that allowed the devolution of policing and justice powers to the Northern Ireland Executive. The agreement was made on 5 February 2010 and included agreement on controversial parades and on implementing outstanding...
, although the fact that it came two weeks after the Agreement was signed is thought to reflect the militant's limited operational capacity.
According to Fachtna Murphy
Fachtna Murphy
Fachtna Murphy was the Commissioner of An Garda Síochána from 2007 to 2010. Prior to his appointment he was the Deputy Commissioner with responsibility for operational policing strategies in An Garda Síochána. He grew up in Timoleague, County Cork...
, Commissioner of An Garda Síochána, this was "the first bomb that exploded in the North in 10 or 11 years.”
Aftermath
The next day the area was sealed off as police investigated. Shops were closed and traffic backed up on the motorway between Newry and BelfastBelfast
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...
. The large explosion caused "traffic chaos" across the city.
Arrests
The Real Irish Republican ArmyReal Irish Republican Army
The Real Irish Republican Army, otherwise known as the Real IRA , and styling itself as Óglaigh na hÉireann , is an Irish republican paramilitary organisation which aims to bring about a united Ireland...
was blamed for the bombing in Newry but on 27 May a 32 year old man was arrested for the bombing. A day before that a 51 year old man appeared in the same court charged with the car bombing.
Responses and Impact
Hillary Clinton, the American Secretary of Statee, condemned the bombing but insisted that it would "not destabilise the peace process".The Newry car bombing is taken as evidence that "hardline Republicans" continue to have the ability to carry out terror attacks in Northern Ireland, although they no longer have the operational strength to do so in Britain itself. The Newry car bombing was one of several cross-border attacks into Northern Ireland in 2009-10. Others included a car bombing of the Northern Ireland Policing Board
Northern Ireland Policing Board
The Northern Ireland Policing Board is the police authority for Northern Ireland, charged with supervising the activities of the Police Service of Northern Ireland...
. There are fears that the terrorists will be able to use these "successful" bombings to recruit.
The operational strength of dissident republican groups as demonstrated by this bombing continues to concern Irish security forces as of September 2010. According to Garda
Garda Síochána
, more commonly referred to as the Gardaí , is the police force of Ireland. The service is headed by the Commissioner who is appointed by the Irish Government. Its headquarters are located in the Phoenix Park in Dublin.- Terminology :...
Commissioner Fachtna Murphy, "A bomb exploded in Newry some months ago and that's the first bomb that exploded in the North since Omagh. That's significant in itself. It's significant in that it tells us they're endeavouring to improve their capability all the time."
Politically, the attack was alleged by the Belfast Telegraph to have led some loyalists "to believe the older leadership called it wrong — that they decommissioned far too soon."
Writing in the Boston Globe, Kevin Cullen cited the Newry court bombing as evidence not only of the continued existence of an "irredentist rump", but of the continuation of a social situation in which the two groups are still "bitterly divided" and "deeply segregated."
See also
- Timeline of Real Irish Republican Army actions
- Timeline of the Northern Ireland Troubles and peace processTimeline of the Northern Ireland Troubles and peace processThis article lists the major violent and political incidents during the Troubles and peace process in Northern Ireland. The Troubles was a period of conflict in Northern Ireland involving republican and loyalist paramilitaries, the British security forces, and civil rights groups. The duration of...
- List of bombings during the Northern Ireland Troubles