1976 Balmoral Furniture Company bombing facts for kids

In 1976, an incident involving fire-starting devices occurred at the Balmoral Furniture Company. This business was located in Dunmurry, a town near Belfast in Northern Ireland. Members of a group called the Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) were involved. This event was part of a difficult time in Northern Ireland's history, known as The Troubles. Among those involved were Bobby Sands and Joe McDonnell. Both later became well-known for their actions while in prison.

Understanding The Troubles

The Troubles was a period of conflict in Northern Ireland. It lasted for about 30 years, from the late 1960s to the late 1990s. This conflict involved different groups with strong political and religious beliefs. Some people wanted Northern Ireland to remain part of the United Kingdom. Others wanted it to join the Republic of Ireland. The Provisional Irish Republican Army (PIRA) was a group that aimed for Northern Ireland to unite with the Republic of Ireland. They used various methods to achieve their goals.

The Balmoral Furniture Company Incident

The incident at the Balmoral Furniture Company was carefully planned. Bobby Sands and Seamus Finucane were key planners. They intended to use fire-starting devices to damage the furniture store. The store was located on the edge of Belfast.

Nine men from the PIRA drove to the showroom. They forced a security guard to cooperate. All staff and customers were moved to the basement for safety. Four devices were then placed upstairs in the showroom.

However, a worker in a nearby building noticed what was happening. He quickly used his car to block the entrance to the furniture shop. Police were called to the scene right away. The PIRA members found themselves surrounded by the police.

A clash with police then took place. During this confrontation, two PIRA members were injured. Four others, including Sands and Joe McDonnell, tried to escape. They sat in a parked car, pretending to be looking for work.

Consequences and Protests

The four men in the car, including Bobby Sands and Joe McDonnell, were arrested. Police found a weapon in their car. In 1977, they were imprisoned for having this weapon.

This incident happened about six months after Bobby Sands had been released from an earlier imprisonment. He had been arrested in 1972. This was for activities that led to his earlier imprisonment and release in 1976.

After their arrests in October 1976, Sands and McDonnell began their time in HM Prison Maze. While in prison, Bobby Sands protested prison rules. He refused to wear the standard prison uniform. Both Sands and McDonnell later became known for a significant protest while in prison.