Killyhevlin Hotel bombing
On Saturday 13 July 1996 a bomb planted by the Continuity IRA blew up in Killyhevlin Hotel, Enniskillen, County Fermanagh during a Catholic wedding. The bomb was estimated to have contained 1,200 pounds (540 kg) of home-made explosive. The blast slightly injured 17 people.[1] It left a crater 12 feet (3.7 m) wide in the car park and destroyed at least a dozen cars. The hotel received two bomb warnings at 11.40 p.m. The warning stated that a silver grey Isuzu jeep with the registration number 92RN92 contained a bomb and was parked in the hotel car park.[2]
| Killyhevlin Hotel bombing | |
|---|---|
| Part of the Troubles | |
| Location | Killyhevlin, County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom |
| Date | 13 July 1996 About 11.40 p.m |
Attack type | Bombing |
| Deaths | None |
| Injured | 17 slightly injured |
| Perpetrator | Continuity IRA |
The attendants at the wedding blamed the group for ending the wedding on what they called a terrible note.[3]
Precursor events and reaction
A silver Isuzu Trooper jeep was stolen in Dublin on 3 July. On 4 July it was stopped at a Garda Siochana checkpoint at midnight near Redhills in County Cavan. The driver was asked for insurance and identification and drove off quickly.
The RUC were warned to watch out for the jeep. Three days later the RUC spotted it near Newtownbutler in Fermanagh. The RUC officers left the jeep and when they returned the vehicle was gone.
Liz O'Donnell of the Progressive Democrats said: "There will have to be questions asked at the most senior level. There has obviously been a lapse... Clearly, from their own security point of view, if a suspect vehicle is pointed out it should be followed up."
The Irish Minister for Justice Nora Owen said the slip-up was raised at the Anglo-Irish Conference.[4]
References
- Melaugh, Dr Martin. "CAIN: Chronology of the Conflict 1996". cain.ulst.ac.uk.
- "Fire ripped through bombed hotel, says eyewitness". The Irish Times. 15 July 1996.
- "Newly weds devastated by bombing of reception hotel". The Irish Times. 15 July 1996.
- Murdoch, Alan; Brown, Colin (18 July 1996). "RUC admits serious blunder over Enniskillen hotel bomb". The Independent.